Washington, DC – Immediately, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) despatched a letter to the Administrator of the Small Enterprise Administration (SBA) Isabella Casillas Guzman calling on the SBA to launch $180 million in unobligated funds from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). There are over 58,000 small companies situated in New York’s twelfth Congressional District a lot of them eating places who struggled economically due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Disbursement of crucial RRF funding to pending candidates to would be certain that American small companies can take part in an inclusive financial restoration, utilizing the total assets obtainable to help struggling small companies.
In her letter, Congresswoman Maloney said, “Unlocking the remaining funds within the Restaurant Revitalization Fund would give small companies the chance to repay debt accrued through the pandemic and resume their regular operations. 1000’s of small companies are nonetheless experiencing gross sales under pre-pandemic ranges, more likely to worsen in mild of latest developments relating to new COVID-19 variants and Monkeypox. Entry to the remaining RRF funds is pivotal to making sure that the restaurant business can survive. I urge the SBA to take the mandatory steps to disburse these remaining funds.”
She continued, “Now greater than ever, each greenback appropriated by Congress for restaurant aid must be unlocked and put within the palms of operators struggling to maintain their doorways open. I urge the SBA to take each step to disburse all remaining funds in a good and well timed method, according to all relevant guidelines and rules.”
Discover the letters to SBA Administrator Guzman under and PDF variations HERE.
Pricey Administrator Guzman,
I’m writing to specific my concern for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which I perceive has $180 million of unobligated funds. There are over 58,000 small companies situated in New York’s twelfth Congressional District, which I’m privileged to signify. That is the most important focus of small enterprise in any congressional district nationally. Moreover, hundreds of those small companies are eating places, which this program was designed to assist. As my colleagues in Congress and I proceed to advocate for the replenishment of RRF funds it’s essential to the restaurant business that the present funds are disbursed.
Small companies, which make use of virtually half of all working People, have been wrestling with will increase within the focus of company energy, additional exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurant house owners have been hit particularly onerous and proceed to battle to maintain up attributable to employee shortages and rising meals prices. The RRF has been a lifeline to the 100,000 small companies nationwide that acquired grants. The Nationwide Restaurant Affiliation estimates that over 900,000 restaurant jobs have been saved on account of RRF funding.
Over 177,000 further restaurant house owners utilized for funding however didn’t obtain any. Many restaurant house owners in my district expressed dismay that they have been lower off from funding when their precedence utility standing was blocked by a courtroom order. Per a latest report from the Authorities Accountability Workplace, the SBA has put aside $24 million of the $180 million remaining RRF funds for pending litigation. Although I perceive the prices related to authorized challenges, The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 doesn’t authorize a $24 million litigation put aside for the SBA to manage. Whereas ARPA does direct returned or reclaimed RRF awards to the Division of Treasury, it will be according to the spirit of the regulation to make the most of all unobligated funds to deal with the RRF shortfall.
Unlocking the remaining funds within the RRF would give small companies the chance to repay debt accrued through the pandemic and resume their regular operations. 1000’s of small companies are nonetheless experiencing gross sales under pre-pandemic ranges, more likely to worsen in mild of latest developments relating to new COVID-19 variants and Monkeypox. Entry to the remaining RRF cash is pivotal to making sure that the restaurant business can survive. I urge the SBA to take the mandatory steps to disburse these remaining funds.
Now greater than ever, each greenback appropriated by Congress for restaurant aid must be unlocked and put within the palms of operators struggling to maintain their doorways open. I urge the SBA to take each step to disburse all remaining funds in a good and well timed method, according to all relevant guidelines and rules. Whereas I perceive the restrictions that this system faces, I hope that you just disburse this crucial funding to pending candidates to make sure that American small companies can take part in an financial restoration that’s inclusive, leaving none behind.
Sincerely,
_______________________
Carolyn B. Maloney
Member of Congress
