Senators Iovino and Brewster met today with the Southwestern PA Tavern and Restaurant Association and bar and restaurant owners to discuss the industry’s need for relief. Also in attendance were Senators Costa, Fontana, and Bartolotta, and Representatives Mihalek, Ortitay, and Miller.
Allegheny County, PA – July 23, 2020 – Today, State Senators Jim Brewster and Pam Iovino announced a comprehensive proposal to provide emergency relief to Pennsylvania’s restaurants and taverns, which have seen significant financial loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdown. The seven-point plan includes a $100 million grant program to retail liquor licensees using federal CARES Act funds, as well as a suite of policy changes to financially benefit these struggling businesses.
"Los restaurantes y las tabernas no sólo son los destinos favoritos de los vecinos y los alimentos básicos de la comunidad, sino que son los creadores de empleo y la piedra angular de las vibrantes calles principales de Pensilvania, que representan el tercer sector más grande de la economía del estado - y están en extrema necesidad de ayuda", dijo el senador Iovino (D - Allegheny y Washington). "A medida que estos propietarios de pequeñas empresas luchan para determinar si pueden aguantar, tienen que saber que hay salvavidas disponibles para ellos. Este plan dirigiría el alivio financiero a este sector minorista específico y ayudará a posicionar nuestra Commonwealth para una recuperación económica plena y duradera."
"Los restaurantes, bares y el sector de la hostelería se han visto especialmente afectados por la pandemia del COVID-19 y tenemos que proporcionarles ayuda", ha declarado el senador Brewster (D - Allegheny y Westmoreland). "Demasiados bares y restaurantes están en peligro, no pueden sobrevivir bajo una estricta mitigación, o han cerrado sus puertas dejando a hombres y mujeres sin trabajo. Tenemos la obligación y la responsabilidad de actuar agresivamente y proporcionar ayuda ahora. El paquete de ayudas que ofrecemos hoy es fundamental para los bares y restaurantes y sus empleados."
Brewster proposed a six-point economic stimulus package in March that included bridge grants for small businesses, including bars and restaurants. He also authored a business reopening plan in April to re-open the economy while addressing the health threat.
The full proposal to provide relief to Pennsylvania’s bars and restaurants includes the following components:
- Provide targeted assistance under the Senate Democrats’ small business assistance program to restaurants and taverns. Carve out $100 million from the remaining CARES Act proceeds to capitalize a program to provide grants to these retail liquor licensees for revenue and capital losses experienced during shutdown periods.
- Increase the wholesale licensee discount for wine and spirit purchases from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) from 10% to 15% for at least nine months, to June 30, 2021 with a gradual phased reduction back to 10% after June 30, 2022. The total savings to the retail liquor licensee community will exceed $30 million
- Waive all license renewal and permit fees that are paid by restaurants and taverns for one year from the date of implementation, representing over $35 million annually.
- Eliminate late fees/penalties for delayed sales tax payments and allow restaurants to pay off delinquent accounts by June 30, 2021.
- Allow licensees to expand their licensed premises outdoors to non-contiguous areas within a certain distance of the licensee.
- Eliminate the $500 off-premises catering permit and current cap on hours/events for an off-premises catering permit during the declared state of emergency.
- Clarify ambiguous language in business interruption insurance policies to ensure claims filed during the COVID-19 pandemic are quickly and efficiently paid to businesses (Senate Bill 1127).
Under this proposal, liquor licensees that are cited for violating public health orders or the liquor code would be subject to forfeiture of any grants received or any fees waived by the PLCB.
Senators Iovino and Brewster will work closely with Senate leadership to see that relief to Pennsylvania bars and restaurants remains a legislative priority. And they encourage all Pennsylvanians to support their local restaurants and taverns to the greatest extent possible by ordering takeout or delivery; carryoutpa.com provides a listing of local businesses across the state.
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