With Rubio’s help, small business still thriving

As a husband, father, and a small business owner, I felt unprecedented challenges during the COVID pandemic. Like me, many Americans faced the uncertainty of whether or not we’d be able to keep our small businesses afloat as we were forced to shut our doors.

Even the thought of having to permanently close my small business, which had enabled my family’s American Dream, was a heavy burden on my shoulders. Looking back now, I still remember the responsibility I felt to my employees to figure out a way to keep them on the payroll. They, like me, were facing a pandemic and we didn’t know what the future would hold.

I moved to Orlando from Puerto Rico in 2011, and after many years in law enforcement, I opened my own security company. Little did I know that five years after we opened our doors we’d have to face our biggest challenge yet: a global pandemic.

Amid a time of desperation, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. My prayers were answered thanks to the Paycheck Protection Program, and I was able to keep my over 100 employees on payroll.

This program was spearheaded in part by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and brought immediate resources to local communities in an unprecedented manner to help small business owners affected by the COVID pandemic.

Rubio showed up to work for his constituents and the American people, and 39,000 small businesses in Puerto Rico and half a million small businesses in Florida were saved as a result.

When small business owners needed a leader in Washington, Marco Rubio rose to the occasion.

Peter Montalvo Orlando