Business owners interested in applying for the SBA’s new Restaurant Revitalization Fund can begin the registration process as early as 6 am PT April 30, with the full application portal set to open at 9 am PT on Monday, May 3.

The online application portal at sba.gov/restaurants will remain open to any eligible establishment until all $28.6 billion of the allocated funds are exhausted.

Established under the American Rescue Plan, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund will provide direct relief to restaurants and other hard-hit food establishments that have experienced economic distress and significant operational losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business, with no more than $5 million per physical location. Funds must be used for allowable expenses by March 11, 2023.

“Restaurants are the core of our neighborhoods and propel economic activity on main streets across the nation. They are among the businesses that have been hardest hit and need support to survive this pandemic. We want restaurants to know that help is here,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman. “The SBA has focused on the marketplace realities of our food and beverage businesses in designing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to meet businesses where they are. And we are committed to equity to ensure our smaller and underserved businesses, which have suffered the most, can access this critical relief, recover, and grow more resilient.”

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 at sba.gov starting Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT.
• Reviewing the official guidance, including program guide, frequently asked questions, and application sample.
• Preparing the required documentation.
• Working with a point-of-sale vendor or visiting sba.gov to submit an application when the application portal opens. [Note: If an applicant is working with a point-of-sale vendor, they do not need to register beforehand on the site
• Attending a live recorded virtual training webinar
  • Wednesday, April 28 | 1 p.m. EDT : Register here
  • Wednesday, April 28 | 2:30 p.m. EDT Register Here

For the first 21 days that the program is open, the SBA will prioritize funding applications from businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. All eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications as soon as the portal opens. Following the 21 days, all eligible applications will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Consistent with the legislation and the intent of Congress, the SBA continues to take steps to ensure the equitable distribution of relief, particularly for the smallest businesses, by creating a $9.5 billion set-aside: $5 billion for applicants with 2019 gross receipts of not more than $500,000; $4 billion is set aside for applicants with 2019 gross receipts from $500,001 to $1,500,000; and $500 million for applicants with 2019 gross receipts not more than $50,000.

Under this announcement, 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.

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Who can apply

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

Allowable use of funds

Funds may be used for specific expenses including:

Business payroll costs (including sick leave)
Payments on any business mortgage obligation
Business rent payments (note: this does not include prepayment of rent)
Business debt service (both principal and interest; note: this does not include any prepayment of principal or interest)
Business utility payments
Business maintenance expenses
Construction of outdoor seating
Business supplies (including protective equipment and cleaning materials)
Business food and beverage expenses (including raw materials)
Covered supplier costs
Business operating expenses

How to apply
You can apply through SBA-recognized Point of Sale Restaurant Partners or directly via SBA in a forthcoming online application portal.

Registration with SAM.gov is not required. DUNS or CAGE identifiers are also not required.

If you would like to prepare your application, view the sample application form. You will be able to complete this form online. Please do not submit RRF forms to SBA at this time.

Priority groups

A small business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are:

Women, or
Veterans, or
Socially and economically disadvantaged (see below).

Applicants must self-certify on the application that they meet eligibility requirements
Socially disadvantaged individuals are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual qualities.
Economically disadvantaged individuals are those socially disadvantaged individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same business area who are not socially disadvantaged.