HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s (DCED) Tourism Office is encouraging Pennsylvanians to support local restaurants by visiting the CarryoutPA Web site.
The Web site offers a comprehensive list of restaurants offering takeout, curbside or delivery services during the state’s stay-at-home order.
“As this public health crisis continues to unfold, it is important that we practice social distancing and adhere to the stay-at-home order when possible,” said DCED Secretary Dennis Davin.
“But it’s also critical to remember that we can all still do our part to support the restaurants in our communities as they work to provide safe dine-out options.”
CarryoutPA.com was developed by the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA) to serve as a go-to resource for dine-out options in support of the commonwealth’s restaurant industry.
The restaurant industry accounts for 10 percent of jobs statewide. Pennsylvania restaurants that would like to be added to the registry can register here.
“Restaurants in Pennsylvania and the nation have been hit hard by the mandated closure of dine-in service due to COVID-19,” said John Longstreet, PRLA president and chief executive officer.
“As the statewide organization for the commonwealth’s restaurant industry, PRLA moved quickly to establish a Web site for restaurants to let the public know that they were open and ready to serve their communities.
“Any restaurant in Pennsylvania that is open for takeout and delivery may add their listing to CarryOutPA.com, at no charge.”
According to the association, 4 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product is spent on eating out, with the restaurant industry generating around $863 billion in 2019.
The association said that more than 70 percent of restaurants are single-unit operations, many of which are family-owned.
“Small business is the backbone of Pennsylvania’s tourism industry, and we are committed to supporting our commonwealth’s business owners as we work through these unprecedented times together,” said DCED Deputy Secretary for Marketing, Tourism and Film Carrie Fischer Lepore.
“By visiting the CarryoutPA Web site, Pennsylvanians can treat themselves to a safely-prepared dine-out meal while helping their community on the road to recovery from this pandemic.”
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, Pennsylvanians should visit: Responding to COVID-19 Guide.
The Pennsylvania Tourism Office, under the Department of Community and Economic Development, is dedicated to inspiring travel to Pennsylvania as the state’s official destination marketing organization.
Pennsylvania welcomed 204 million visitors in 2019, generating a $43 billion economic impact, which supports 500,000 jobs.
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