Local Resources Matter More Than Ever After COVID-19
by Arkansas State Senator Bruce Maloch
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hen you have spent 35 years as a banker in a community like Magnolia, served in the state senate and house, practiced law, and run a cattle ranch, it’s easy to think you have seen it all. But then COVID-19 came along, and we were reminded that none of us had ever seen anything like this. The virus was different from any previous national crisis because with COVOD-19 we were all threatened no matter where we live. But as summer arrives, we are starting to put this behind us. We are finding our way toward a new normal after a spring that saw schools close, businesses damaged, and forced us all to retreat to our homes. In March, I was asked to help with the process of approving the release of emergency funds from the $173 million-dollar COVID-19 Rainy Day Fund. I have worked with Governor Hutchinson and legislative leaders to continue to make smart decisions to get funding where it can best help protect the state. We have worked together to be fast and innovative in finding solutions to new problems, and we tried hard not to respond like a bureaucracy.
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The Arkansas Banker n Summer 2020
