HOUSTON – The Houston City Council approved $10 million in additional funding for the Small Business Economic Relief Program. The money will come from the CARES Act 2020 funds and will bring the total money set aside for the program to $35 million. The program provides grant assistance to small businesses and chambers of commerce that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The maximum amount a business or chamber can receive from the SBERP is $50,000, according to the city. This component is meant to ensure businesses that receive grant funds have a higher likelihood of surviving the pandemic.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump says he has instructed aides to stop negotiating on a coronavirus aid plan until after the election, roiling stock markets hoping for an economic boost for hard-hit industries such as the airlines. Trump, who has the coronavirus himself, tweeted Tuesday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was not negotiating in good faith. The Democratic-led House passed a $2.2 trillion relief bill last week. The White House said at the time that it had raised the price tag on its own proposal to $1.6 trillion. But bridging that difference has proved difficult.