CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE SECURES RESTAURAUNT REVITALIZATION FUNDING

April 7, 2022

(Rochester, NY) – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced the passage of legislation he sponsored, the Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act, to help local establishments keep their doors open and save thousands of jobs.

“I’m proud to announce I have delivered on my promise of replenishing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “It is my hope that this additional support will provide Rochester’s dining establishments with the resources they need to keep their doors open. Restaurants are the cornerstone of our local economy, and I’m pleased to secure the essential support they deserve as we recover from the challenges of the pandemic.”

The American Rescue Plan included $28.6 billion in emergency relief to the restaurant industry and is estimated to have saved 100,000 jobs. However, the need was far greater than the fund provided, and it quickly ran out leaving many applicants out of the equation. In February, Rep. Morelle joined local Rochester area restaurateurs to announce his sponsorship of H.R. 3807, Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act. In addition to sponsoring this legislation, Rep. Morelle sent multiple letters to Congressional leadership and President Biden urging the swift replenishment of this fund. In response to the needs of our community, additional allocations have been made to help other small businesses who were previously ineligible for assistance, such as gyms.

H.R. 3807, Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act will:

Provide $42 billion in emergency assistance to bars and restaurants.

Create a new Hard Hit Industries Award Program, providing an additional $13 billion to small businesses that were hardest hit by the pandemic but not eligible for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund or Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program.

Pay for itself with funds reclaimed by the Federal Government from those attempting to defraud previous recovery programs.