b'LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORYOU KNOW Getting Better, But NotAT THE HELMTHE WATER.Yet Out of the WoodsWE KNOW YOU. JOHN GROUNDWATER // EXECUTIVE DIRECTORMariners trust mariners, and for good reason. NobodyP VA members have been reporting improvements in business asthe American Bus Association, the United Motorcoach Association, they enter the summer months.Ridership in most markets isand the National School Transportation Association to urge Congress knows your business like you do, except for Cummins.up and the sentiment is that while many have not yet reachedto provide additional funding for the CERTS Program this year.With connected tech that lets you fine-tune performance,2019 business levels, things are certainly heading in the right direction.collaborative engineering that makes our products feelThere have even been some reports that there are indications thatRRF REPLENISHMENT ACTlike they were made for you, and a service network thatcorporate spending may be loosening up somewhat, which is defi nitelyIn March, Congress created the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), understands how you operate, youve got a friend youa welcome sign of better times to come. which provided $28.6 billion in grants to assist restaurants cope with can trust out on the water, and thats Cummins.the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.PVA staffworked Learn more at cummins.com/marine AccordingtotheU.S.TravelAssociation,morethantwo-thirdssuccessfully with senior staffat the Small Business Administration of American adults are now comfortable returning to their normal(SBA), who is charged with administering the program, to ensure that routine and 62 percent feel comfortable taking a vacation.This bodesdinner cruise operators would be eligible to apply for aid under the well for the U.S. passenger vessel industry as well as other tourism-basedRRF.Several PVA members received RRF grants, but unfortunately industry segments.In fact, it has been reported that approximately 48the funding was quickly exhausted.million Americans travelled over the July 4 holiday this year.Experts have reported that the number of July 4,2021 travelers is only slightlyRecently, the RRF Replenishment Act was introduced in both the behind those traveling over the same holiday in 2019.House and the Senate.The measure would appropriate an additional $60 billion for the RRF.SBA staffhas indicated that if you have WhilePVAisoptimisticaboutprospectsforacontinuingstrongapplied for funding, you will be held in-line until additional funds economy as well as an improving business outlook for the U.S. passengerare available.If you have been denied and feel that you are qualifi ed, vessel industry, we continue our work to ensure that Congress and theSBA has indicated that there will be an appeals process in place once Administration are aware that the negative eff ects of the coronavirusfunds are available. PVA has urged Congress to approve the RRF pandemic on our industry will not simply disappear overnight and thatReplenishment Act.they must continue to provide support as industry begins the long and challenging journey back to economic health. NEW PVA DIGITAL MARKETING PROGRAMIsyourcompanyparticipatinginthenewPVAdigitalmarketing CORONAVIRUS ECONOMIC RELIEF FOR TRANSPORTATIONprogram?Designed to promote the U.S. passenger vessel industry and SERVICES (CERTS) PROGRAM to assist PVA members market their businesses to consumers, a new In mid-June, after many months of hard work, and focused advocacywebsiteAhoy.usis up-and-running.by PVA leaders and staff , the U.S. Treasury Department opened the CERTS program for grant applications for passenger vessel operators,If you have not yet signed up, I encourage you to do so. Do not miss motorcoachcompanies,schoolbuscompanies,andmarinepilotout on this valuable marketing opportunity.Register your company companies.Under the program, Treasury will provide $2 billion inusing the link below:grants to eligible companies that certify they experienced an annual revenue loss of 25 percent or more in 2020 as a direct or indirect Upload Company Information for Your Company Profi leresult of COVID-19. CERTS grant funds are primarily used to coverUsing the link to the Member Update Form below, upload your payroll costs but may also be used to cover the acquisition of services,companyinformationforyourbusinessprofi leontheAhoy.equipment, including PPE and protection measures from COVID-19org website.This form will provide you a place to upload a text for workers and customers; continued operations and maintenance oflisting, your logo, and images specifi c to your profi le section. existing equipment and facilities; rent, leases, insurance, and interest on regular debt service.Member Update FormThe CERTS portal was open to receive applications from qualifi edUPDATE:PVA ANNUAL CONVENTION AT MARITRENDS 2022 companies through July 19.Many PVA members applied for theseIS A GOgrants, we hope they will be awarded in the next few weeks. For those of you who have been wondering if PVA will hold a face-to-face convention in 2021, I have great news for you.The PVA If you will recall, early on, CERTS legislation proposed $10 billion inBoard of Directors has approved the PVA Site Selection Committees funding for these grants.Unfortunately, the funding was reduced torecommendation of Long Beach, California for our next convention. $2 billion as the bill made its way through Congress.PVA continues toThe dates for the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2022 will be work with other transportation lobbyists and organizations includingFebruary 5-8.Our headquarters hotel will be the Hyatt Regency Long Continued on page 392021 Cummins Inc.JULY 2021 7 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR21-CMI-0423_ad_Generic Marine Ad_Foghorn_v1.indd 1 6/17/21 10:22 AM'