&Pizza opened its doors in 2012, and has been on the expansion fast track every since. CEO Michael Lastoria explains how his company grew from one Washington, D.C. location to 23 along the East Coast. The company recently closed a round of funding led by RSE Ventures. Lastoria says that the company plans to use the capital to open 15 stores in the next year. At least four will be in New York City. &Pizza plans to expand to Miami and Boston as well. Community is at the heart of &Pizza's business model. Each of the company-owned locations partner with local artists and organizations. Lastoria is also a fervent advocate for increasing the federal minimum wage. He says that morally, it is the right thing to do. Lastoria has spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying Congress on the issue.

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Small grocers and convenience stores feel an impact as customers go without SNAP benefits
Some small grocery stores and neighborhood convenience stores are eager for the U.S. government shutdown to end and for their customers to start receiving federal food aid again. Late last month, the Trump administration froze funding for the SNAP benefits that about 42 million Americans use to buy groceries. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about 74% of the assistance was spent last year at superstores like Walmart and supermarkets like Kroger. Around 14% went to smaller stores that are more accessible to SNAP beneficiaries. A former director of the United Nations World Food Program says SNAP is not only a social safety net for families but a local economic engine that supports neighborhood businesses.
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