Thank you, Madam Chair. It is my understanding that the SEED application isn't quite so bad as, perhaps, some of the federal requirements are, but having not applied for SEED funding myself, I will go and ensure that that is the case. We do have the regional offices to act as pathfinders. We offer that always through ITI. We have been encouraging people to reach out to the regional office if they are having trouble with any sorts of applications. I believe that we have also been offering that help even on federal programs or navigating programs that are not our own. I do recognize that the offices and staff are quite busy right now. If people are finding that they're falling through the cracks or they are not getting a response, I had offered out prior, and I offer it out again, that I am more than willing to advocate for people if they are more than willing to reach out to me. I see my DM is kind of smiling at that.

Another part is that we are also reviewing any of the denied applications, both, I believe, with the BDIC and SEED, so that we can ensure that it hasn't been a matter of some T not being crossed or some I not being dotted that people are losing the funding. That is not our intent. We do encourage, if anybody has been denied or needs further help, that they do reach out to either myself and my staff or through the department.

Also, I will say that the federal government does have a pathfinder line as well. Again, I won't profess to know how well the federal government's navigational supports are, but I would encourage people to do that. Like I said, the staff are there to help. If people are finding that they are not getting help from the staff, please encourage them to come to me. Thank you, Madam Chair.