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DeLauro, Blumenauer Host Restaurant Relief Round Table

April 1, 2021

Members Assisted Connecticut Restaurant Owners in Accessing $28.6 Billion in Relief Passed by Congress

NEW HAVEN —Today, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Executive Director of the CT Restaurant Association Scott Dolch hosted a virtual restaurant relief round table to assist Connecticut restaurant owners with accessing the coronavirus relief funding recently passed by Congress in the American Rescue Plan.

"The America Rescue Plan brought us one step closer to recovery in one of the sectors hit hardest by the pandemic—the restaurant industry," said DeLauro. "Our restaurants are the heart and soul of our communities and our local economy. When small businesses are closed, profits decrease, employers are forced to lay off employees or close their doors, and families and workers struggle to pay their bills, feed themselves, and their children – among other worries like losing their home and catching COVID-19. When we crafted the American Rescue Plan, we understood that funding for restaurants was paramount to the health and success of the people of Connecticut and our economy. I thank Congressman Blumenauer for his leadership in the fight for this critical relief and our efforts to ensure this funding gets to the businesses who need it the most and Executive Director Scott Dolch for his dedicated support and advocacy for Connecticut's restaurant community."

"As things hopefully return to normal later this year, the relief money we secured for restaurants could spell the difference between survival of some of our most cherished local dining establishments and losing them forever," said Blumenauer. "I appreciate Chair DeLauro's strong support of the legislation and her work to help educate people in the community about this important legislative lifeline that will soon be available."

"When this pandemic first began, no part of the private sector was hit harder than the restaurant industry, which is made up mostly of small businesses, many of which are family-run," said Scott Dolch, Executive Director of the CT Restaurant Association. "Now more than a year later it's critically important we help as many of those restaurants as we can, and the Restaurant Relief Fund will be a core part of that recovery. This funding will mean the difference between staying in business and shutting down entirely for many local restaurants, and we are extremely thankful to Congresswoman DeLauro and the rest of Connecticut's delegation for their great efforts making this help possible."

The American Rescue Plan:

  • Creates a $28 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund to increase the funding allocation for a new program at the Small Business Association to aid restaurants and bars hardest hit by the pandemic. $5 billion is set aside specifically for smaller establishments with less than $500,000 in 2019 annual revenue. During the first 21 days, applications from restaurants owned and operated by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will receive priority.
  • Increases the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding which offers $7.25 billion in additional funding for PPP and expands eligibility of 501(c) nonprofits of all sizes and types, except for 501(c)4 lobbying organizations.
  • Supports small businesses by providing $15 Billion for COVID-19 emergency grants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program. The program allows an additional $15 billion for targeted EIDL Advances to help those who applied for relief in 2020 but did not receive the full $10,000 grant.

Businesses can exercise EIDL Program and the Forming a State Small Business Credit Initiative: which provides $10 billion to support up to $100 billion in small business financing through state, territorial, and tribal government programs. Of this amount, $2.5 billion is dedicated for support to business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, including minority-owned businesses.

In addition, the plan establishes the Community Navigator Pilot Program that increases the awareness of and participation in COVID-19 relief programs for business owners currently lacking access, with priority for businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, women, and veterans.

"Connecticut has a federally funded CT Small Business Development Center with trained staff to assist free of charge. I urge anyone with questions to contact my office or the state's COVID-19 response website for up-to-date information," said DeLauro. "We would be glad to help you and your loved ones."