Door Notes: Restaurant Assistance Still Needed

Due in part to inadequate funding levels, Door County’s food and drink establishments did not fare as well as anticipated in receiving relief through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund that was announced earlier this spring. 

Of the almost 200 businesses that consistently received updates or individual assistance from the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC), 38 entities were awarded funding. It is unknown how many applied for the grant. Nationwide, 100,600 companies received the grant. 

Door County recipients – 23 in total – ranged from bakeries to restaurants that received between $4,333 and $568,674. The majority were minority-owned, including women- and veteran-owned businesses. 

When established, the grant program had $28.6 billion set aside to help restaurants and other food and drink businesses, but it ran out of funding within days of accepting applications. Currently, there’s a bill seeking additional funds to provide relief to applicants that were not funded.

The DCEDC thanks its investors for making it possible to provide technical assistance to the county’s food and beverage industry. To find out more about pandemic relief loans, email Julie at [email protected].