Assistance Programs Still Open for Restaurants, Shuttered Venues, & Other Hospitality Businesses
A local program for hospitality businesses remains open as the Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) grant portal has reopened and additional details about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RFF) grant program have been provided.
The COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) provides grants from $5,000 to $50,000 to eligible hospitality industry businesses including hotels, restaurants, bars, and taverns. Funds are still available for businesses in Columbia and Montour counties. Businesses can apply at the Community Giving Foundation’s website at www.csgiving.org until the funds are exhausted or June 15, 2021.
The SVO grant program provides assistance to live venues that were harmed by COVID-19 restrictions. The SVO grant program will distribute $16 billion in funds to live venue operators, including eligible movie theaters, concert spaces, museums and performing arts organizations. SVO grants are being administered directly by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The application portal has been reopened.
The RFF will provide $28.6 billion in grants targeting hard-hit restaurants and bars. Affected entities will be able to apply for grants based on lost gross revenue between 2019 and 2020, with maximum grant sizes totaling $5 million for restaurants and $10 million for restaurant groups.
Similar to the SVO grants, RRF grants will be administered directly by the SBA. Technical guidance and a sample application (see Supplemental Documents) are now available. The SBA expects to open the application portal on May 3rd at noon.
The Small Business Development Center network is partnering with the SBA to offer a free informational session about the RFF program this Thursday, April 29th, at 9:00 a.m. Register online here.