Restaurants pledge to help minority businesses

Several Madison restaurants have committed to donating a portion of their federal COVID stimulus funds to minority businesses that were denied funding, according to a Wisconsin State Journal report. Cook It Forward, a nonprofit advocacy arm of Rule No. 1 Hospitality Group, announced that the owners of Merchant, Sardine BelAir Cantina, and Ian’s Pizza are donating an amount equal to 3% of their grants to the organization. The funds will help minority-owned restaurants that were previously approved for federal funding but had it rescinded after a lawsuit against the U.S. Small Business Administration’s prioritization of businesses owned by women, veterans, and minorities.