Supporting Black Owned Restaurants During Covid-19

Small businesses like restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries, diners and more have been closing their doors everyday since the Covid-19 pandemic has started. Due to current laws put in place by state governments to encourage social distancing, these businesses have been forced to close their doors, and only offer carryout or delivery. On 3/27/20, the US Government signed into law a coronavirus relief bill, called the CARES ACT. The the CARES Act is a stimulus plan to help corporations, small business, and American citizens. However, most of the smaller "mom & pop shops" will not see any of this relief. Black-owned businesses have historically suffered from underinvestment and government assistance even when the economy is booming.

Many of our local black owned eateries in the US are relying on their customers to help them make it through this hard time. Some companies have even started crowdfunding campaigns to help with employee salaries and bills. While speaking to Edward Dillard, the owner of eatblackowned.com, he mentioned that searches on his website for black owned eateries in the United States has decreased by almost 50% since the pandemic has started. "Everybody is hurting right now, however we need to help each other if we can", Dillard said. Eatblackowned.com is a website to easily locate over 2200 black owned restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and diners. It's the largest directory on the internet to find black owned eateries.

Dillard continued to say, "most of the restaurants listed on our site are now offering delivery, and still have takeout. People need to eat. If you can afford it, treat yourself to a nice meal and support a local business".

Out of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill, Congress only allocated $10 million to the Minority Business Development Agency, which connects minority-owned businesses with the capital, contracts, and markets they need to grow. This $10 million will need to be split between all black owned businesses, in ALL industries. Leaving a lot of these businesses on the short end, and possibly having to close their doors forever.

The importance to keep the dollar in our community could not be more important than now. If you are in a position to support a minority owned business, please do what you can to help these men and women. A Twitter hashtag for Black-owned businesses has gone viral. You can find more Black-owned businesses to support in almost every city on eatblackowned.com, or webuyblack.com.

Marcus Jenkins

Marcus Jenkins
1100 Dixie hwy
Ft lauderdale, FL

Eatblackowned.com is a user friendly website to locate 2200+ black owned eateries. Viewers can search by city, address, or by using their current location.

This release was published on openPR.