It's not news that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its resultant business closures have devastated both the national and local restaurant industry. That's why part of the $2.2 trillion federal CARES Act was slated to go toward offering small businesses, including restaurants, some financial relief. The bill's Paycheck Protection Program set aside $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses so they could pay their employees, their rent, their utility costs, etc. But that initial round of funding ran out quickly, with many independent businesses seeing nothing.
(Conversely, publicly traded, international chain Ruth's Chris steakhouse received $20 million from the bailout. Potbelly Sandwich Shop, another international chain, got $10 million. So did Shake Shack —although Shake Shack has returned their loan after public uproar.)
The Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA) and the National Restaurant Association (NRA) aren't waiting and have crafted their own Restaurant Blueprint for Recovery action plan.
Please select this link to read the complete article from City Beat.