The Independent Restaurant Coalition is petitioning the US Congress for help to save the restaurant industry and the 11 million jobs that comprise it.
Restaurants generate some $880 Billion per year in revenue in the US and 90% of that revenue gets paid out directly to restaurant employees, suppliers, and for rent. The economic activity generated by restaurants account for 4% of the nation’s GDP. As the Us’s second-biggest employer, after government, the restaurant industry is a cornerstone of the economy. However, unlike other ‘too big to fail’ industries, there is no effective lobby at the federal level.
The Independent Restaurant Coalition, looks to fill that void and was formed by independent chefs and industry professionals including José Andrés, Will Guidara, Sean Brock, Kwame Onwuachi, Nick Kokonas, Ashley Christensen and many more as well as the Food Policy Action and the James Beard Foundation.
The group is petitioning the US Congress for a bailout, that would save restaurants, the jobs and the communities they support. The letter is requesting signatures, currently with 10,000 and calls for action in the following ways:
- To fix the Flaws Within the Paycheck Protection Program
- To create a Restaurant Stabilization Fund
- To create New Tax Rebates for Independent Restaurants to Survive Post-Crisis
- To require Business Interruption Insurance to Cover COVID-19
