Fare Share: Ohio restaurant owners visit Capitol Hill
In late April, more than 40 restaurant owners, operators and vendor members of the Ohio Restaurant Association visited Washington to advocate for Ohio restaurants on Capitol Hill. The Ohio delegation was the largest of any state at the National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference, which was attended by more than 500 restaurant leaders from across the country.
During the trip, Ohio’s restaurant industry leaders visited with 17 of Ohio’s members of Congress, including Sen. Rob Portman’s and Sherrod Brown’s teams, to urge the passage of key legislation to help the industry.
As restaurants continue to face a relentless labor-shortage crisis and the highest inflation in more than 40 years, action is necessary to save these cornerstones of our communities. The pressure on independent and smaller restaurants is immense, as about one-third of the nation’s restaurants were unable to pay their April rents, an increase of 5 percentage points from the prior month.
One solution to address the workforce issue is the Essential Workers of Economic Advancement Act. EWEA would expand the country’s workforce in occupations that provide growth opportunities and career paths without a college degree by creating a three-year, market-driven, nonimmigrant visa program that has the potential to bring nearly 85,000 employees into the workforce, which is critical for the restaurant industry’s and nation’s economic growth.
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Industry leaders also discussed restoring the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) with members of Congress during the visits. ERTC, created as a valuable COVID-19 relief tool, helped many restaurants remain open during the pandemic, as the tax credit was used for payroll, debt servicing and other needs.
Although the program originally was created to run through December 2021, ERTC was cut short and ended in the fall. The decision to prematurely end the tax credit affected 60% of restaurants across the country, and owners no longer had the lifeline available for the fourth quarter of 2021.
Additionally, due to IRS delays, many restaurants have waited nine months or more for ERTC funds and now owe taxes on money they have yet to receive, creating a severe cash-on-hand shortfall. Restoring the ERTC is critical to the survival of small restaurants, including many here in central Ohio.
Lastly, Ohio restaurant owners and operators continue to push for replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Nearly 70% of eligible restaurants across the country were approved for funds but didn’t receive them before the program’s funds were depleted.
Ohio restaurant owners continue to fight for the industry at the state, local and national levels. Equally as important, the restaurant industry continues to passionately contribute to our local communities and help friends and families celebrate special moments.
So how can restaurant lovers help? Grab a bite with friends and family at a local restaurant you love. When you visit a restaurant, you are investing in a true cornerstone of your community.
John Barker is the president and CEO of the Ohio Restaurant Association.
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Fare Share: Ohio restaurant owners visit Capitol Hill
