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Ohio’s Restaurants Ask Congress For More Federal Aid

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — Ohio’s restaurants and bars say Congress needs to get to work immediately to give them more federal dollars to offset the losses associated with the pandemic.

Patio outside Columbus restaurant
Patio outside Columbus restaurant [Dan Konik | Statehouse News Bureau]
The Ohio Restaurant Association’s John Barker said seven counties have stay at home advisories and that, along with statewide restrictions, are hurting his members.

“And so now we are back at the catastrophic phase for restaurants again. They have no cash flow. They are all losing money,” he said.

Barker believes Congress needs to extend more federal aid for restaurants, bars and employees. He said there’s a 20% unemployment rate associated with them right now and thinks that number will climb significantly as the pandemic continues.

“It would be unconscionable not to help save America and all of these small businesses,” Barker said.