Group will give relief grants to independent restaurants
Coalition members eligible for $1,000 in aid
Restaurants are earning a fraction of what they were making before the pandemic. An unexpected expense — or even an expected one — can be a crisis.
Their resources depleted, many restaurants have spent rainy day funds on what's been a monsoon since March, making it a struggle to weather a broken stove or ice maker.
“Those little expenses could put people out of business,” said Melissa Buchholz, co-owner of Odd Duck in Bay View.
Through T-shirt sales and cash donations from the public, the Milwaukee Independent Restaurant Coalition will begin giving $1,000 grants to restaurants to help them make ends meet during the pandemic.
Although it's not a huge amount, said A.J. Dixon, Lazy Susan chef-owner, “That can be someone's bill; that can be a repair.”
Dixon, Buchholz and others are on the coalition's steering committee, which set up the micro grants.
The restaurants must be in Milwaukee County, independently owned and members of the coalition to be eligible for one of the relief grants. Joining the coalition is free and can be done through the group's website, mkeirc.com.
The grant can be used for anything, such as paying employees, buying personal protective equipment or making unexpected repairs.
The coalition has enough cash on hand to award 10 relief grants soon. The group will accept the first applications Sept. 1 through 5 at its website, and will choose the recipients randomly (through wheelofnames.com) on Sept. 7. Grants will be awarded that day.
A restaurant that applies for the grant but isn't awarded one is automatically eligible for future awards.
The coalition will award 10 more grants every time it amasses another $10,000 through online donations and sales of T-shirts, hats, backpacks and other items on its website.
“The struggle is very real for us, and our goal is to help support our friends, colleagues and restaurant family,” Dixon said in announcing the relief grants.
She estimated the Milwaukee chapter of the coalition has 90 members.
Buchholz said buying MIRC merchandise or donating is a way for diners to support a number of restaurants at
once.
The grants are a small-scale version of the federal legislation restaurants across the country are seeking, Buchholz said.
Assistance is especially key now that summer is winding down, winter’s on the way and days for dining on patios are dwindling, she said. A number of restaurateurs have not reopened their dining rooms, unconvinced they can do so safely during the pandemic; carryout alone isn’t sustainable, she said.
The relief grants “can keep you going another week or month or so,” Buchholz said. “Every little bit helps.”
“We know not everyone is going to survive, but if we can preserve some of our diversity in dining, that’s important to all of us,” she added.