Restaurants warn they might not survive winter without new federal relief [View all]
WASHINGTON (TND) — Nearly seven months after a program set up by Congress to aid dining establishments struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic ran out of money, restaurant operators are imploring lawmakers to provide further assistance before the end of the year.
“Two-thirds of restaurants that applied for assistance have not received it,” said Erika Polmar, executive director of the Independent Restaurant Coalition.
Polmar’s organization released a letter Thursday signed by over 3,300 bars and restaurants calling on congressional leaders to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which provided $28.6 billion in relief under the American Rescue Plan. More than 278,000 restaurants sought over $72 billion when the application portal opened, and only about 101,000 received funds before the program was exhausted.
The restaurant industry was hit harder than most by the pandemic and related business restrictions. Layoffs during lockdowns were steep, rehiring has been sluggish, and many cities were slow to lift limits on indoor dining once the initial wave of infections faded. Supply chain delays and surging inflation have created additional strains on restaurants that survived the shutdowns.
https://krcgtv.com/news/nation-world/this-cant-wait-any-longer-restaurant-groups-press-congress-for-more-aid
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