Funding Amount

Up to $10 million per entity (max $5 million per location)

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)

Status: Federal grant program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Geographic Scope: United States

Background: Established through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021 with $28.6 billion in funding to help restaurants and food service businesses affected by COVID-19 pandemic losses.

Eligible Business Categories:

  • Restaurants

  • Bars

  • Caterers

  • Food Trucks

  • Brewpubs

  • Taverns

  • Lounges

  • Tasting Rooms

  • Taprooms
  • Award Amount:

  • Maximum: $10 million per entity (including affiliates)

  • Per Location: No more than $5 million per location

  • Allocation: $5 billion set aside for businesses with gross receipts under $500k in 2019
  • Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a privately held business in eligible categories

  • Businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans are eligible but must deduct PPP amounts from RRF grant requests

  • Cannot have previously received a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant

  • Not eligible: government-run entities, publicly traded companies, entities with 20+ locations

  • Priority: Women-owned, socially disadvantaged, economically disadvantaged, and veteran-owned businesses receive priority in application processing
  • Eligible Expenses (Feb 15, 2020 - Dec 31, 2021):

  • Payroll

  • Rent (minus prepayments)

  • Principal and interest payments on mortgages (minus principal prepayments)

  • Utilities

  • Maintenance of outdoor seating

  • Construction costs for maintenance (walls, floods, decks, furniture, fixtures, equipment)

  • Supplies and sanitation (cleaning products and personal protective equipment)

  • Food and beverage costs (Feb 20, 2021 - Dec 31, 2021)

  • Supplier costs as covered under the grant program

  • Other operational expenses

  • Sick leave

  • Additional maintenance fees
  • What They Don't Fund:

  • Cannot be used in conjunction with Employee Retention Credits (ERC)

  • Does not cover expenses outside the eligible date ranges

  • Not available to government-operated or publicly traded entities
  • Grant Calculation:

  • Grants designed to offset revenue losses between 2019 and 2020, minus any PPP loans received

  • For businesses not operating in 2019: difference between 2019 and 2020 gross receipts multiplied by 12

  • For businesses opening after March 15, 2020: covered expenses minus gross receipts

  • Different formulas may apply as SBA develops the program
  • Tax Treatment:

  • Grant proceeds are not federally taxable

  • Expenses funded by grants are tax-deductible if authorized

  • Individual state tax treatment varies by local laws
  • Application Portal: sba.gov/restaurants (portal launched end of April 2021)

    Contact: Visit sba.gov for detailed guidelines and information

    How to Apply

    How to Apply

    1. Prepare Supporting Documentation
    - Gather evidence of gross receipts (to calculate revenue reduction between 2019-2020)
    - Collect documentation comparing 2019 and 2020 gross receipts
    - Prepare list of projected eligible expenses between Feb 15, 2020 and Dec 31, 2021
    - Calculate and document any PPP or ERC funding already received
    - Prepare tax returns, financial statements, and business records

    2. Calculate Grant Amount
    - Determine gross revenue reduction between 2019-2020
    - Subtract PPP loans received from the calculated amount
    - Subtract ERC funding received
    - Do not exceed $10 million per entity or $5 million per location

    3. Submit Application
    - Apply online through sba.gov/restaurants portal
    - Timing: Apply as soon as portal is live—funds are distributed on first-come, first-served basis
    - Priority processing for women, socially disadvantaged, economically disadvantaged, and veteran-owned businesses

    4. Application Tips
    - Apply early as funds are limited and may not cover entire industry
    - Gather all necessary documentation before portal goes live to expedite approval
    - Early applicants more likely to be approved before funds deplete
    - Congress may approve additional funding, but this is not assured

    Required Materials:

  • Proof of business entity status

  • Business tax identification information

  • 2019 and 2020 business tax returns or financial statements

  • Documentation of PPP loan amounts (if applicable)

  • Documentation of ERC amounts (if applicable)

  • List of covered operating expenses

  • Ownership information
  • Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    small-businesseswomen-owned-businessesminority-businessesveteran-businesses

    Categories

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