\n<\/p>\n

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC)- Another bump to Virginia’s minimum wage takes effect on New Year’s Day. Starting Jan. 1, 2023, the state’s minimum wage will jump to $12 per hour, up from the current rate of $11 per hour. <\/p>\n

The recent increases in minimum wage are already being felt by some Virginia small businesses. At Gelati Celesti, a locally-owned ice cream chain serving Richmond and Virginia Beach, owner Steve Rosser said the series of recent minimum wage increases have taken a toll. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn Virginia, we went 11 years maintaining a $7.25 minimum wage and then, in a matter of 20 months, we went from $7.25 to $12. That is very challenging for a small business,” Rosser said. “I\u2019m pleased that our employees are earning more money. I really am. I think that is a good thing. I just ask that we do it in a more controlled fashion moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosser said entry-level employees, usually high school or college students, make the minimum wage plus tips. He said the incremental increases since 2021 have raised their labor costs by 35%. Meanwhile, he said inflation is driving up dairy prices. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat rapid increase in expenses is very difficult for us to manage,” Rosser said. “We have had to raise our prices, but not to the degree that we have recovered all of that.” <\/p>\n