House Republicans Announce Pandemic Relief Package to Help Bars and Restaurants

Yesterday, I joined my House Republican colleagues in calling for legislation aimed at providing relief for Connecticut’s struggling bar and restaurant industry. Our restaurants and bars have taken the most serious hit in this pandemic. From the lowest wage earners, to the suppliers that impact our small businesses and community — it has been tough on everyone.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent government-mandated closures and restrictions have decimated the hospitality industry and more than 600 Connecticut restaurants have permanently closed, with hundreds more currently on the brink.

With the new legislative session starting in January, we have the opportunity to provide real relief for these important drivers of our state economy. The House Republican caucus will propose legislation, focused on bars and restaurants, to:

• Establish a $50 million targeted pandemic relief grant fund for those with qualifying monetary losses;
• Install yearlong suspensions of liquor permitting fees, and food licensing fees for certain restaurants;
• Delay by 90 days the due date for municipal real and personal property tax payments;
• Direct the state’s Department of Economic & Community Development to partner with financial institutions to create a low interest loan program.

The governor has pledged to help the industry but so far has not spelled out exactly what that means, or whether he will use remaining CARES Act funds to do so.

If we work together with restaurant representatives we can develop programs and plans that provide the necessary safety protocols without destroying what’s left of the industry. This relief would be welcome aid and hopefully keep some great establishments from closing.