New COVID Relief Funds Available For Aliso Viejo Restaurants & Bars  

Aliso Viejo restaurants and bars impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are now eligible to apply for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. On Wednesday (5/5/21), President Biden stated that the program was established to help food establishments hit hard during COVID and that the grants can be used to cover payroll, rent, utilities, supplies.

The American Rescue Plan Act established the program to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. The RRF will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss, up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.

The SBA will accept applications from all eligible businesses and process applications in the order which they’re approved by the SBA. The online application process will remain open until all funds are exhausted. For the first 21 days, the SBA will prioritize funding applications from businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. 

Who Can Apply to The Restaurant Revitalization Fund?

Eligible entities who have experienced pandemic-related revenue loss include:

  • Restaurants
  • Food stands, food trucks, food carts
  • Caterers
  • Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
  • Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars
  • Bakeries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
  • Brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
  • Breweries and/or microbreweries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
  • Wineries and distilleries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
  • Inns (onsite sales of food and beverage to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
  • Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products

How To Apply?

You can apply through SBA-recognized Point of Sale vendors or through the SBA’s online application portal. Participating POS providers include Square, Toast, Clover, NCR Corporation (Aloha), and Oracle. 

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