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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 11, 2020 01:10 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Todd Stephens and Rep. Aaron D. Kaufer |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Funding for Mom and Pop Restaurants Devastated by COVID-19 |
| As we all know, COVID-19 has severely impacted businesses in Pennsylvania. Sadly, the restaurant industry has been devastated by the pandemic. Prior to the arrival of the coronavirus, PA was home to over 25,000 restaurants, employing 408,000 people. Of the 408,000 employed in February 2020, 332,000 have been laid off or furloughed — that’s 81 percent of the entire workforce. In April 2020, restaurants that were still operating, reported an 82 percent decline in sales, which equates to $1.8 billion in lost sales for PA restaurants. Further, it is now estimated that up to 20 percent of restaurants may never reopen. To help restore this critical industry and its jobs, we are introducing legislation creating the Small Restaurant Grant Program to assist restaurants impacted by COVID-19. This program will dedicate $250 million of assistance to these vital businesses. Restaurants that have between 1 and 10 locations in Pennsylvania that lost at least 50 % of their monthly sales in April and May 2020 will be eligible for up to $25,000 per location to use for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or the purchase of food and beverage materials for restaurant operations. Please join us in cosponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2615