Local small business owners share how US bailout funding helped them stay afloat – CBS Baltimore

RANDALLSTOWN, Maryland (WJZ) – The US bailout is paying off for small business owners in Maryland who have received millions from the federal program.

After a tough year, things started to improve for Myrie’s Island Kitchen owner Christine Mattis-Myrie.

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“We’re doing great, we’re doing great,” said Mattis-Myrie.

The Randallstown restaurant has been open here on Liberty Road for three years, but barely made it through 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic severely slowed business down. Fortunately, she got just-in-time help from the US Federal Rescue Plan Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

“We were saved by the bell. The grant kept us open, ”added Mattis-Myrie.

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Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger sat down for a restaurant meal today to highlight the impact of the program. He said it provided more than $ 560 million to restaurants in Maryland – which for some was extremely important in helping them keep their doors open.

“I think it’s now safe to say that the ARP (American Rescue Plan) was a lifeline for hundreds of small businesses right here in our state of Maryland,” Ruppersberger said.

The US bailout also helped struggling arts venues in Maryland like the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park – which missed thousands of dollars in revenue because it couldn’t rent space to artists or put on shows. in theaters during the pandemic.

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“It was essential that this income came in such a form that we could make up some of this lost income,” said Donna Anderson.