Schumer ready to help restaurants

More than $28 billion is heading toward restaurants seeking relief in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. But if eateries want their piece of this financial pie, they’re going to have to apply.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is trying to get that word out now, at least to restaurants in New York, trying to get the state in the front of that federal line.

He started that push from Midtown’s Crave Fishbar, a family-owned, completely sustainable seafood restaurant.

“New York restaurants like Crave, their employees, and our overall economy, need immediate federal relief to weather COVID and recover because too many places we know and love could close without the help, leaving a giant hole in our economy,” Schumer said, in a release.

“Getting federal dollars into the hands of struggling small businesses — like restaurants across New York City and Long Island — not only makes sense, but it’s the recipe needed to keep small businesses like Crave and others across Long Island going, and keeping their workers on the job.”

The money is expected to come through the Small Business Administration, and was part of a relief fund Schumer called the Restaurants Act. It’s open to food service or drinking establishments — including caterers, brewpubs, taprooms and tasting rooms, that are not part of an affiliated group with more than 20 locations.

The financial assistance can be used alongside first and second Paycheck Protection Program loans, Schumer said, as well as SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance, and the Employee Retention Tax Credit.

Grants are available for up to $10 million per group, and $5 million per individual restaurant. Money can be used for payroll and benefits, mortgage, rent, utilities, maintenance, supplies, food and operational expenses, among others.

For more information, visit SBA.gov.

Originally published April 29, 2021