NRA and IRC Send Joint Letter to the Hill Requesting Support of a Small Business Grant Program

Today, the National Restaurant Association and the IRC sent a joint letter to Congressional leadership to request support of a small business grant program for restaurants, bars, tasting room, and other food service entities as part of the reconciliation process. Nine bar, distiller, and spirits partners signed on the letter with the Association and IRC.

Click here to view the letter.

The $25 billion restaurant grant program contained in the small business title of the budget reconciliation recognizes the unique business models of restaurants and would help sustain small restaurants and stimulate recovery. Importantly, the provision sets aside $5 billion specifically for small restaurants, bars, and tasting rooms, making less than $500,000 in gross receipts in 2019. And prioritizes the award of grants to eligible entities that are owned by women or Veterans or are socially and economically disadvantaged businesses.

In addition to the letter, Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association said: “Majority Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi have taken a strong step forward with formally unveiling legislative text to provide a $25 billion restaurant recovery program in their proposed COVID stimulus bill. This has been a key part of the range of recovery components we have sought from our federal, state, and local governments. Restaurants are going to be on the verge of closing for much of 2021 – the Schumer/Pelosi proposal will be a strong backstop to minimize lost restaurants, jobs, and revenue for local communities.”