Vaccine hesitancy in the U.S., coupled with the Delta variant and ever-growing complacency about the virus, has led to a troublesome rise in COVID-19 cases of late. As of writing (mid-July 2021), The New York Times is reporting that cases in the last 14 days are up nearly 200%, while deaths have increased almost 44%. America’s once torrid vaccination pace has slowed to a trickle, and the consequences have been deadly.

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund application process closed on May 24th, 2021. More than 360,000 restaurant and foodservice business owners applied, vying for their share of the RRF’s budgeted $28.6 billion. Unfortunately, the funding sought by applicants totaled over $75 billion, meaning that many restaurateurs would be left out in the cold.

Historically, Colorado’s minimum wage has been among the highest in the United States which has had a corollary effect on their economy. In 2021, US News and World Report ranked Colorado the second-best economy in the United States.

The global pandemic has affected just about every facet of our lives--from how we live, how we work, and how and we run our businesses. Many small businesses and industries have been severely crippled by COVID-19, particularly the restaurant industry.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) includes a number of important provisions for employers that will provide much needed relief to small business owners across the United States. ARPA has extended and expanded the tax credits available through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to employers who chose voluntarily to extend paid COVID-19-related leave to their employees through September 19th, 2021.