Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Votes for New Relief Funding for Florida's Restaurants and Small Businesses

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick voted to secure urgently needed relief for small businesses across Florida. The Relief for Restaurants and Other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act will deliver $55 billion to replenish funding for Florida restaurants and establish a new program supporting other small businesses impacted by the pandemic.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of Florida’s economy and are helping power our historic recovery,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick.  “In our American Rescue Plan, Democrats created the Restaurant Revitalization Fund: a lifeline for 5,736 Florida businesses to help them reopen, recover and rehire.  Today, I proudly voted for legislation that will build on that success: enabling restaurants that weren’t able to take advantage of this program the first time to access essential relief in the wake of the omicron wave.  This bill will also establish a new program to support Florida’s hardest-hit small businesses – delivering assistance to businesses that have suffered revenue losses of at least 40 percent during the pandemic.  Democrats remain laser-focused on Building a Better America, and I will continue fighting to help entrepreneurs keep Floridians on payroll and continue serving our communities.”

“Established through Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) distributed $28.6 billion to restaurants across the country – including $4,038,812,492 for 17238 Florida businesses. Due to its popularity, the program quickly exhausted its funding before more than 170,000 eligible businesses could access relief.  The Relief for Restaurants & Other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act will provide $42 billion to replenish the RRF so that these restaurants can apply for this assistance.”

This legislation also takes action to support other struggling small businesses:

• Providing $13 billion to establish the Hard-Hit Industries Award Program, which will assist Florida small businesses with 200 or fewer employees that have experienced 40 percent or more in lost revenue.
• Updating the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program to provide Florida entertainment venues with more time and flexibility to use federal relief funds.