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Small Businesses Eligible for Assistance <br />Public Comment: Treasury received many comments about the general benefits or <br />drawbacks of use of SLFRF funds to provide assistance to small businesses. Some commenters <br />suggested that SLFRF funds should be available to assist all small businesses, rather than only <br />businesses that experienced direct negative economic impacts due to the public health <br />emergency. Other commenters argued that aid to small businesses should be narrowed in the <br />final rule, asserting that SLFRF funds should instead focus on assistance to households or <br />building public sector capacity. <br />Treasury also received comments requesting clarification of the types of small businesses <br />eligible for assistance. For example, some commenters requested clarification about whether <br />microbusinesses were included in the definition of small business. Comments also suggested that <br />self-employed individuals and Tribal enterprises be classified as small businesses, respectively. <br />Commenters argued that these types of small businesses are more common among low-income <br />and minority businessowners and serve as important institutions in underserved communities. <br />Finally, some commenters suggested that Treasury permit broader enumerated eligible <br />uses to assist small businesses in disproportionately impacted communities and generally <br />strengthen economic growth in these communities. These commenters recommended that <br />Treasury presume small businesses operating in QCTs are disproportionately impacted and <br />eligible for broader enumerated uses. <br />Treasury Response: As discussed in the section Designating a Negative Economic <br />Impact, in the final rule, recipients must identify an economic harm caused or exacerbated by the <br />pandemic on a small business or class of small businesses to provide services that respond. <br />147 <br />