Representative Angie Craig Spotlights Local Businesses in Effort to Replenish Grant Fund for Struggling Restaurants
In Small Business Committee Hearing, Craig questioned Small Business Administrator on the status of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund which Craig championed earlier this year
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, in a House Small Business Committee hearing, U.S. Representative Angie Craig questioned Isabel Guzman, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on the status of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) – a grant program designed to support local bars and restaurants that Craig successfully included in the American Rescue Plan earlier this year.
In her line of questioning, Craig spotlighted the experiences of two local businesses – Tawakal Restaurant in Burnsville and Nick's Downtown Diner in Cannon Falls – which have both applied to receive relief funds from the RRF. While Tawakal was able to secure support through the program, Nick's Downtown Diner is currently unlikely to receive funds, as the program has received requests exceeding the amount of funding originally provided by Congress.
At the hearing, Craig informed Administrator Guzman that she would soon be leading an effort among her colleagues in the House to urge House leadership to immediately replenish the program to fulfill current demand. The RRF Program, which was originally allocated $28.6 billion to support local businesses, has thus far received more than 362,000 applications – with a total of $75 billion in funding requested.
A full video of Representative Craig's questioning of Administrator Guzman is available here.