Help is here for Oregon restaurants

Our local restaurant owners, chefs, servers and other food industry workers were hit harder than almost any other sector of the workforce. As they have been bravely soldiering through this pandemic, we have been working in Congress for more than a year to get them the help they deserve.

Now, help is here.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of joining with the head of the Small Business Administration to announce that nearly 1,000 Oregon restaurants have received a Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant as part of the relief program I fought to include in the American Rescue Plan.

This was something we designed here in Portland with our local restaurateurs. Then we took it back to Congress to get the job done.

The grants are giving a lifeline to small business owners like Han Hwang, who runs a Korean food cart in Southeast Portland. He shared with us yesterday that this relief money is a complete game changer and shows him that he and other local businesses are not alone.

I am especially proud that the program is working as we intended by ensuring relief goes first to the smallest local businesses and those run by women, veterans, communities of color, and others who are too often overlooked and under-resourced.

With yesterday's announcement, $138 million is here to help nearly 1,000 Oregon restaurants, corner coffee shops, tasting rooms, neighborhood bars, and other beloved establishments. And more help will be on the way soon.

There's still much work to be done, but you can bank on the fact that I will continue fighting for our local businesses to have the support they deserve.

More soon.

Earl