With restaurants and performing arts venues in Door County among the last ones able to fully reopen because of the pandemic, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is signing onto legislation that could help fill the gap until that time comes. In June, the Democratic Senator from Wisconsin signed onto the Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act, a $120 billion bill designed to help owners recover some of the revenues they lost from being closed early on during the pandemic. A month later, she also signed onto the Save Our Stages Act, which would provide similar support for independent performing arts venues to the tune of approximately $10 billion. Without the direct federal assistance, about 90 percent of independent performing arts venues and 85 percent of restaurants could close. Senator Baldwin hopes these bills can move along even without being tied to a larger coronavirus aid package.

According to Newsweek, a new $1.5 trillion proposal from the Problem Solvers Caucus called the “March to Common Ground” earmarks $290 billion for small businesses and paves the way for another round Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Picture taken prior to COVID-19

LISTEN FOR MORE ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS ACT AND THE SAVE OUR STAGES ACT