What You Need to Know About the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)
Program Details
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) will provide grants of $28.6 billion to restaurants and bars that experienced lost revenue in 2020 as compared to 2019. Organizations with fewer than 20 restaurant units are eligible for RRF grants.
If you have had a decline in revenue due to COVID-19 and it has not been covered by a Paycheck Protection Program loan, you might be eligible for an RRF grant.
RRF grants can be used for the following types of expenses:
- Payroll costs
- Mortgage, rent, and lease payments including principal or interest (not including prepayment)
- Utilities
- Maintenance (including outdoor seating construction) and Supplies (including PPE and cleaning materials)
- Food and beverage expenses within the scope of normal business practice before February 15, 2020
- Covered supplier costs
- Operational expenses
- Paid sick leave (but not for wages claimed under FFCRA leave)
- Other expenses deemed by the SBA as necessary to maintain the entity
When to Apply
The SBA announced they will begin accepting registration for the RRF on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EDT and open applications on Monday, May 3, 2021 at noon EDT. The online application portal will remain open until all of the $28.6 billion set aside for this program has been allocated.
Funding during the first 21 days of the program will be prioritized for small businesses owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. That said, the SBA encourages all eligible businesses to apply as soon as the portal opens, as applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis after the initial 21 days.
Preparing to Apply
- Register for an account at https://restaurants.sba.gov/requests/borrower/login/ starting Friday, April 30 at 9:00 a.m. EDT (unless you are applying through a POS vendor – see below under “How to Apply”)
- Review the sample Application
- Review the RRF Program Guide
- Attend a live recorded virtual training webinar – registration can be found here
How to Apply
You can apply through point of sale (POS) vendors (including Square, Toast, Clover, or NCR Corporation (Aloha)), or apply directly through the SBA’s portal at https://restaurants.sba.gov/requests/borrower/login/. If you apply through a POS, you do not need to register beforehand.
For More Information
Review the SBA’s webpage on the RRF. A Spanish version can be found here.
You can sign up for RRF email updates here.
