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Published December 16. 2020 7:34PM
Mark Pazniokas and Keith M. Phaneuf, The Connecticut Mirror
With the restaurant industry desperate for help, Gov. Ned Lamont told a business audience Wednesday that his administration is planning at least another $25 million in COVID-19 aid for small businesses in addition to the $50 million in grants now being processed.
He spoke to the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce at a virtual luncheon an hour before House Republicans proposed their own $50 million grant program and other relief measures for restaurants and bars. Lamont told the chamber members he currently had no plans to further limit restaurants, whose indoor dining is restricted to 50% of capacity.
Courtesy of Pixabay
The Republican minority in the Connecticut House has urged Governor Ned Lamont to provide a $50 million state relief package for restaurants.
Their focus is on local-owned, non-chain restaurants that have suffered the most during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to House GOP leader Vincent Candelora.
About 600 independent bars and restaurants have closed in the state during the pandemic, said Scott Dolch, the executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association.
The House GOP caucus also wants a one-year suspension of state alcohol and food licensing fees and a 90-day moratorium on the payment of local property taxes for hard-hit businesses.
Cloe Poisson / CTMirror.org
With the restaurant industry desperate for help, Gov. Ned Lamont told a business audience Wednesday that his administration is planning at least $25 million more in COVID-19 aid for small businesses in addition to the $50 million in grants now being processed.
He spoke to the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce at a virtual luncheon an hour before House Republicans proposed their own $50 million grant program and other relief measures for restaurants and bars. Lamont told the chamber members he had no plans to further limit restaurants, whose indoor dining is restricted to 50 percent of capacity.
“I have no plans to close anything right now,” Lamont said.
Consensus building for COVID aid to restaurants
Cloe Poisson :: CTMirror.org
Last summer, Sammy Bajraktarevic, (right) owner of Luce Restaurant in Middletown, and server Alex Cirikovic measured a six-foot distance between tables as they set up a dining area in the restaurant’s parking lot beneath a tent in preparation to reopen for outdoor dining. Currently, indoor dining is limited to 50% of capacity and a six-foot distance between tables.
With the restaurant industry desperate for help, Gov. Ned Lamont told a business audience Wednesday that his administration is planning at least another $25 million in COVID-19 aid for small businesses in addition to the $50 million in grants now being processed.