Lawmakers are suggesting the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, part of the American Rescue Plan be extended for restaurants that are still recovering from the pandemic.
The grant money was worth $28.6 billion and was prioritized for minority owned business but less than a third of qualifying applicants got the help they needed.
Co-owner of Bubby’s BBQ in Rochester, Demetrius Washington Ellison, qualified for $42,00 but received nothing.
Though he never received the grant, he was able to be resourceful and stay afloat by remaining open only a couple of days a week before increasing to three days a week.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand suggests an extension because the demand outweighed the supply.
Her and other lawmakers are calling for $60 billion more in aid to cover everyone who qualified the first time but was unable to get the money.
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