Sponsor Testimony - Senate Bill 108, House Economic and Workforce Development (April 13, 2021)

Summary

Sponsor testimony from Senators Steve Huffman and Mark Romanchuk on Senate Bill 108 to the House Economic and Workforce Development committee, dated April 13, 2021. The testimony states the bill would provide grants to bars, restaurants and the lodging industry throughout Ohio, allocating 125 million dollars for fiscal year 2021: 100 million dollars for bars and restaurants and the remaining 25 million for lodging. It states grants would be awarded in 3 tiers: $10,000 / $20,000 / and $30,000. It also states that SB 108 passed the Ohio Senate unanimous.

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                   Senators Steve Huffman and Mark Romanchuk
                    House Economic and Workforce Development
                                   April 13, 2021
                                   Senate Bill 108


Chairman Edwards, Vice Chair Powell, Ranking Member Upchurch and members of the
House Economic and Workforce Development, thank you for having us here today to present
sponsor testimony on SenateBill 108, which would provide grants to bars, restaurants and the
lodging industry throughout Ohio.

It’s no secret the challenges that all Ohioans and businesses in our great state have faced this past
year. The hospitality industry has been no exception. Our bill is simple and straight forward: it
gets money in the hands of these businesses that so desperately need the funds.

SB 108 allocates 125 million dollars for fiscal year 2021 to provide grants to bars, restaurants
and the lodging industry impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, under this bill 100
million dollars would be allocated for grants to bars and restaurants with the remaining 25
million allocated towards grants for the lodging industry.

Grants would be awarded in 3 tiers: $10,000 / $20,000 / and $30,000. Grants awarded to bars and
restaurants would be based upon factors such as demonstrated loss of revenue and the number of
employees eligible bars and restaurants employ. While the grants for Lodging would be based
upon factors such as a demonstrated loss of revenue and occupancy rates.

It is imperative that we get these grants out to these businesses as soon as possible. With many of
these businesses experiencing record losses in revenues and cutting employment in an effort to
stay afloat – the grants can serve as a bridge that many of these business can use to keep the
lights on and retain employees.

During the height of business closures more than 29,000 of Ohio’s direct hotel jobs were lost as
well as another 86,000 supported jobs, of which 40% of the hotel workers are still not back to
work.

SB 108 passed the Ohio Senate unanimous. We look forward to working with the House
Economic and Workforce Development on a speedy consideration andfavorably passage of the
bill to get these funds out to the hardworking Ohioans as soon as possible.
We thank you again for your consideration and would be happy to address any questions the
committee may have.


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