Minnetonka, MN — Rep. Dean Phillips and celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern have released a new video in support of the expansion of restaurant aid in upcoming negotiations in Congress around COVID relief.  

Over the past two years, Rep. Phillips has worked with organizations like the Independent Restaurant Coalition to highlight challenges faced by restaurant owners and other businesses reliant on public gatherings during a pandemic. Phillips is leading the charge for a targeted small business relief package in Congress that includes relief for industries disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, such as restaurants, gyms, and live events.

While programs like the Restaurant Relief Fund (RRF) helped some small business owners during the pandemic, many others were shut out, including those who were initially approved only to be told later that the funding dried up. In late January, Phillips and Sen. Amy Klobuchar hosted a roundtable with local business owners from industries disproportionality impacted by COVID-19, and their message was clear: More aid is needed if small businesses that Americans rely on are going to survive.  

Their stories are backed up by the data. For example, according to Hospitality Minnesota, 59% of restaurants in the state have taken on debt during the pandemic, with an average debt of over half a million dollars.  According to a recent survey led by the National Restaurant Association, nearly 50% of restaurant operators that did not receive RRF grants feel it’s unlikely that they will stay in business beyond the pandemic without a grant.

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