Restaurants Looking for More Federal Aid, With Bill in Congress

A fund that provides federal economic relief to restaurants and bars struggling during the pandemic is ending for now. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund ran out of money last week.

A new bill currently in Congress would replenish the fund, with more than 170,000 eligible applicants yet to receive funding.

Zoe Olson is Executive Director of the Nebraska Restaurant Association and said restaurants are important for Nebraska’s economy.

“We’re one of the major employers in the state. We’re also one of the larger contributors to the economy of the state,” she said. “We’re behind agriculture, but otherwise we’re right up there. If numerous restaurants in our state fail, it doesn’t do anything for the economy.”

Olson said restaurants owned by women, veterans, and minority races were originally prioritized but many restaurants owned by those groups of people are still waiting to receive funding.

Olson said Representative Don Bacon supports the new bill, while the association hasn’t heard back from Nebraska’s other representatives and senators.