DAYTON, Ohio — Sen. Rob Portman made a whirlwind tour across Ohio to check in with several businesses that received CARES Act funds during the pandemic.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman made a four-stop tour across Ohio to visit with businesses that received CARES Act funds

  • Portman visited the Honda Heritage Center, World Class Plastics in Russels Point, Shaffer Metal Fab in Sydney and Premier Health’s Miami Valley Hospital

  • Portman said he learned a lot about Ohioans during the trip, including how big hearts they have

It started in Marysville at the Honda Heritage Center and ended in Dayton at Miami Valley Hospital. 

Portman rounded out the trip with a collaborative press briefing to recap how the CARES Act dollars awarded to several businesses were put to good use, as well as detailing how Premier Health benefitted from the Provider Relief Fund in the CARES Act, which Portman supported. 

Portman had nothing but praise for the job done by the folks at Premier Health and Miami Valley Hospital. 

“Just the praises that heap on your your nurses and your other staff that showed such compassion when they couldn’t be with family members,” Portman said.  

Portman applauded the job done by Premier Health to expand testing and accelerate results, as well as use convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients.

“I appreciate you being on the cutting edge of that, and I know that your doctors are using it appropriately and carefully,” he said. 

The tour was aimed at checking in with businesses to gauge how Payroll Protection Program loans and other assistance has helped and continues to help these businesses.

Premier Health President and CEO Mary Boosalis voiced her gratitude for senator Portman’s support throughout the pandemic. 

“Your support for the CARES Act, I can’t hardly think of anything more important for our long-term viability,” Boosalis said. "It helped lessen the financial impact of the pandemic and it helped to cover the cost of the steps that were necessary to keep people safe.” 

Portman’s tour showed him CARES Act dollars were put to good use. 

“The need for small businesses to continue to get help from the PPP program, it was really essential,” Portman said. “I mean these companies I saw today I’m in small business myself I understand it because I’ve seen it firsthand and it’s really been a struggle.”

Portman said he was very impressed with the ingenuity of Ohio businesses to find ways to be productive to help those in need during the pandemic, such as Honda helping to build ventilators. 

"What a big heart Ohioans have,” he said.  

But Portman said we are not out of the woods yet and implored that we must stay vigilant in following recommendations and guidelines to combat the pandemic.