Majority Whip Hanks questions OMB on community grocery store impact on small businesses

Thank you, Chair.

To kind of piggyback off of Chair Lee's questionings regarding the community grocery stores, I don't know if this question's been asked, has the administration conducted any studies on how the community grocery stores will impact small businesses,

particularly like bodegas or local grocery stores?

We are attuned to those issues.

I know in speaking with EDC, they are also attuned to that.

We also know that through our small business services, we are investing in as much as we can to help small businesses.

This is this program.

Is something that directly relates to the affordability agenda.

And the time now is even more salient when we see costs going up and the fact that the SNAP eligibility looms large.

And there are so many factors that are playing into the need for grocery stores in this proposal.

So it doesn't have to come at the expense of small businesses.

Thank you so much.

So does the administration have a plan on how they'll engage council members whose these grocery stores will reside?

We're happy to take that back to our intergovernmental teams and our leadership.

Please do.

Thank you.

Okay, one more question.