Kelly, Gonzalez Highlight Local Impact of Restaurant Rescue Plan

Chicago Heights IL

14 September, 2021

3:01 PM

Description

(Chicago Heights, IL) – At a press conference in Chicago Heights on Monday morning, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) was joined by the city's mayor, David Gonzalez, and Alice Davis, co-owner of Bergstein's Deli, to recognize the local impact of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, a federal program designed to aid financially struggling restaurants and bars across the country. Kelly, Gonzalez, other city officials, Bloom Township and school district leaders appeared outside of Bergstein's NY Deli on Dixie Highway in Chicago Heights to highlight the success of the American Rescue Act's $28 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund that helped more than 100,000 U.S. restaurants and bars survive the COVID19 pandemic, including Bergstein's. "We received financial help from the rescue plan and would not be open today without that help," said Davis. "The Restaurant Revitalization Fund helped provide badly needed financial assistance to local businesses, like Bergstein's, to keep going, who, otherwise, would have shut their doors," said Gonzalez. "The restaurant and bar financial rescue saved many businesses, but more are still at risk." "Congress must ensure that funding is available to restaurants and bars, which were shut out of earlier funding, get a financial lifeline thrown to them, too, because the COVID19 pandemic remains a real threat to the livelihood of other restaurants and bars in Chicago Heights and in the region," said Gonzalez. "With Rep. Kelly's leadership in the U.S. House, I am hopeful that the federal government will act to preserve the economic foundation of many communities that, like Chicago Heights, include our local restaurants and bars." [email protected]