WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MARCH 18, 2021 7
Queens Chamber hails signing of American Rescue Plan
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Help is on the way to the thousands
of small businesses,
restaurants and bars across
the borough that have been impacted
by the economic crisis caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic. The Queens
Chamber of Commerce celebrated
the passage of the American Rescue
Plan, which was signed into law by
President Joe Biden.
“The past year has been incredibly
difficult for small business
owners. Queens was the epicenter
of the epicenter for the pandemic,
and our local economy has suffered
greatly,” Queens Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Tom Grech
said. “We’ve lost too many cherished
neighborhood businesses, including
nearly 1,000 of our 6,000 restaurants.
Those that have survived
are hanging on by a thread. This bill
will provide much-needed relief to
struggling small business owners,
helping them keep the lights on,
make payroll and continue to serve
their customers.”
More than 23,000 restaurants in
New York City provided more than
317,000 jobs and delivered nearly
$27 billion in taxable sales in 2019.
According to state Comptroller Tom
DiNapoli, employment in the city’s
restaurant sector fell to 91,000 in
April and sales fell 71 percent during
the three-month period in March,
April and May of 2020 compared to
the same period in 2019.
The Queens Chamber of Commerce
was a strong advocate for
the passage of the Real Economic
Support That Acknowledges Unique
Restaurant Assistance Needed to
Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act of
2020 and it worked with Congresswoman
Grace Meng, restaurant
owners and other stakeholders to
advocate for passage of a relief fund
for the restaurant industry.
The $1.9 trillion stimulus package
signed by President Biden has
a number of provisions intended
to help small businesses, including
$29 billion in direct aid to
restaurants and an additional $7.25
billion for the Paycheck Protection
Program.
“Restaurant and bar owners create
economic opportunity in every
community in every city and state
across the country. They add to the
character of our neighborhoods
and help immigrants strive for the
American dream,” Grech said. “We
are so grateful to our representatives
in Washington, including
Senator Chuck Schumer, Congress
member Gregory Meeks, Congress
member Grace Meng, Congress
member Tom Suozzi, Congress member
Carolyn Maloney and the entire
Queens delegation who worked hard
to deliver this much needed aid to
our restaurant industry.”
The Queens Chamber of Commerce
is the oldest and largest
business association in Queens
representing more than 1,300
businesses and more than 125,000
Queens-based employees.
President Joe Biden signs the American Rescue Plan, a package of
economic relief measures to respond to the impact of the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Photo via REUTERS/Tom Brenner
If you’re 60 or older, a TLC licensed driver, a home health care aide, a restaurant or
delivery worker, a grocery store or bodega worker, you are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines are available to eligible New Yorkers at no cost,
regardless of insurance or immigration status.
Look for an appointment today!
Visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX-4NYC to
make an appointment at a City-run vaccination site.
Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc
Commissioner
Eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine?
/vaccinefinder
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