March is Restaurant Month as everyone’s encouraged to support their local restaurants while they try to overcome difficulties created by the pandemic. The Berrien County Board of Commissioners last month passed a resolution declaring Restaurant Month in March for the second year in a row. The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber’s Arthur Havlicek tells WSJM News restaurants need a boost.
“Our chamber is currently advocating for Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund,” Havlicek said. “The first round of funding, while also inadequate compared to the need, still saved about 30,000 jobs in Michigan, restaurant jobs in particular, and if they were to replenish that fund, it could save another 50,000 restaurant jobs.”
The county board’s resolution states restaurants are struggling with “heightened consumer hesitancy, low workforce participation rates, historically high inflation rates, and persistent disruptions in the global supply chain.” The board’s resolution also calls on Congress to replenish the Federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
