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The $25 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund has passed in the House as part of Biden’s COVID-19 rescue package

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan is one step closer to passing, but faces a hurdle in the Senate with the inclusion of the $15 minimum wage hike

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

March 1, 2021

1 Min Read
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The Senate is likely to strip out the $15 minimum wage from the bill, and then it will have to go back to the House for another vote.dkfielding / iStock / Getty Images Plus

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan largely on party lines — including $25 billion in relief for small restaurants and the $15 minimum wage hike — in the middle of the night Friday into early Saturday morning.

The bill, which includes $1,400 relief checks for Americans making under $75,000 and funds for vaccine distribution, among other relief, now faces a significant hurdle as it heads to the Senate, where the Senate parliamentarian ruled Thursday that the controversial $15 minimum wage cannot be included in the relief package because it violates budget reconciliation process rules.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan also includes the Restaurants Revitalization Fund, which would provide $25 billion in relief for small and mid-sized restaurants and based on the original $109 billion RESTAURANTS Act passed by the House last year.

The plan would provide up to $5 million in grants for individual restaurants, bars, caterers, breweries and tasting rooms or up to $10 million for restaurant groups. To qualify, restaurants must not be part of an affiliated restaurant group with more than 20 locations. The first three weeks of the grant period would prioritize restaurants owned and operated by women, people of color and veterans. Additionally, one-fifth of the funding is set aside for businesses that grossed less than $500,000 in receipts in 2019.

Read more: The House passes Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, including $25 billion in restaurant relief

Contact Joanna at [email protected]

Find her on Twitter: @JoannaFantozzi

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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