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Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) Grant

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Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) Grant

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

SBA Administrator Announces Closure of Restaurant Revitalization Fund Program: The $29 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund has received over 303,000 applications totaling more than $69 billion in funds and closed on Monday, May 24. Over 100k restaurants were awarded $28.6 billion and the average award was $283K.

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund application platform will remain open for the next two weeks to allow applicants to check their status, address payment corrections, or ask questions. The SBA will disable access to the platform on July 14, 2021.

With the closure of the RRF, the SBA will continue to deliver economic aid to help small businesses recover with critical relief through programs such as the Economic Injury Disaster Loans [EIDL], Targeted EIDL Advance and Supplemental Targeted Advance and the Community Navigator Program. For additional information on SBA’s Economic Relief programs, visit COVID-19 relief options (sba.gov).

The American Rescue Plan Act established a $28.6 billion “Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)” within the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). An eligible business may receive a tax-free federal grant equal to the amount of its pandemic-related revenue loss, calculated by subtracting its 2020 gross receipts from its 2019 gross receipts. Eligible entities  are businesses who have experienced pandemic-related revenue loss that are not permanently closed and are businesses where the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink. Food service or drinking establishments, including caterers, brewpubs, taprooms, and tasting rooms, that are not part of an affiliated group with more than 20 locations will be eligible to apply for the grant. The Restaurant Revitalization (RRF) Grant for restaurants will be administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For the first 21 days that the program is open, the SBA will prioritize reviewing applications from small businesses owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Following the 21-day period, all eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications. The funds must be spent on expenses that were/are incurred between February 15, 2020 and March 11, 2023.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) Grant

The SBA has announced that it will begin registrations for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 7 am MDT and open applications on Monday, May 3, 2021 at 10 am MDT. 

Even if you do not qualify for the 21-day priority period, you should submit your grant application as early as possible. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. In preparation, the SBA recommends qualifying applicants familiarize themselves with the application process in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient application experience, specifically by:

    Registering for an account in advance

    Register for an account in advance at sba.gov starting Friday, April 30, 2021, at 7 a.m. MDT.

    Reviewing the official guidance

    Reviewing the official guidance, including the Program Guide (04-28-21), Frequently Asked Questions, and the RRF Application Sample (04-21-21).

    Preparing the required documentation.

    There are three ways to apply:

      1. Directly at the SBA online application portal: https://restaurants.sba.gov/
      2. Through two of SBA-recognized Point of Sale (POS) vendors – Square or Toast. Applicants working with Square or Toast do not need to register at the SBA portal.
      3. Through the telephone at (844) 279- 8898 (this will have longer processing time)

    For assistance preparing your application, you can access the following:

    RRF knowledge base support documentation

    Application portal screenshots (04-30-2021)

    Call Center Support: 1-844-279-8898

    Upcoming RRF SBA West Virginia District Office Trainings:

    Every Tuesday at 12 pm MDT

    Every Wednesday at 10 am MDT 

    The American Rescue Plan Act established a $28.6 billion “Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)” within the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). An eligible business may receive a tax-free federal grant equal to the amount of its pandemic-related revenue loss, calculated by subtracting its 2020 gross receipts from its 2019 gross receipts. Eligible entities  are businesses who have experienced pandemic-related revenue loss that are not permanently closed and are businesses where the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink. Food service or drinking establishments, including caterers, brewpubs, taprooms, and tasting rooms, that are not part of an affiliated group with more than 20 locations will be eligible to apply for the grant. The Restaurant Revitalization (RRF) Grant for restaurants will be administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For the first 21 days that the program is open, the SBA will prioritize reviewing applications from small businesses owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Following the 21-day period, all eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications. The funds must be spent on expenses that were/are incurred between February 15, 2020 and March 11, 2023.

    The official Restaurant Revitalization Fund Sample Application (04-21-21) and Guidelines (04-28-21) have been released. Details on application requirements, eligibility, and a program guide are now available in English at www.sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at www.sba.gov/restaurantes. Sign up to receive email alerts from SBA as additional information about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund becomes available. The National Restaurant Association has reviewed and discussed early drafts of the application with the SBA and released a FAQ document on April 9th, 2021.

    April 29, 2021: The National Restaurant Association has just posted three new resources for restaurant owners completing grant applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).

    • An updated FAQ document (04-27-21), reflecting the latest guidance from the Small Business Administration.
    • A new Step-by-Step Guide (04-28-21) to completing an RRF grant application.
    • An archive of past webinars held with the SBA on the RRF including a discussion with  the SBA Administrator and the President of the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance on how the 21-day priority period works for restaurant owners from economically and socially disadvantaged communities.

    April 28, 2021: Special Briefing on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s New Restaurant Revitalization Fund

    The SBA website is the best source for up-to-date information for eligible restaurants interested in the RRF. Additional information regarding the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) Grant program can be found on the SBA’s RRF Grant webpage including: