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Texas  + Austin  + Hospitality  | 
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SB 8 Includes $180M for Hospitality and Tourism

The Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) applauds the Texas Legislature for adding $180 million to support local hospitality and tourism businesses into SB 8, the federal pandemic relief bill that recently passed. The hospitality and tourism industry has been devastated by the pandemic, and when this funding became available to Texas from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the TRA led a coalition of business groups and communities to drive support.

“I am so proud that the Texas Restaurant Association led this initiative, which would not have succeeded without the powerful voices of restaurants, and many other hospitality and tourism businesses from across the state,” said Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the TRA. “This grant program cannot reverse all of the damage that the industry has suffered during the pandemic, but it will be incredibly meaningful to thousands of restaurants, theaters, distilleries and other businesses that need a jumpstart to turn the corner and rebuild. Even more than that, by dedicating $180 million to help the hospitality and tourism industry recover, our lawmakers have made an important statement, confirming our state’s commitment to the local businesses that have suffered greatly over the past 18 months and yet continue to struggle because they want to continue to serve their communities. We cannot afford to lose these local businesses.”

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Emily Williams Knight

About Lisa Brown

Lisa Brown has decades of experience in corporate communications and marketing management with organizations including Coldwell Banker Residential, Grubb & Ellis, Marcus & Millichap, NAIOP, SIOR and ALM. In those positions, she worked in conjunction with chief executive officers and chief marketing officers to create corporate messaging, cohesive branding standards, strategic marketing plans and thought pieces. Brown is a frequent speaker at industry events and an editing adjunct professor for an online course. She has a master’s degree in mass communications from San Jose State University.

  • ◦Policy/Gov't