St. Louis Restaurant Tornado Relief Fund

Geographic Scope: St. Louis area affected by the May 16, 2025 tornado

Background: On May 16, 2025, St. Louis was struck by a devastating tornado that caused the loss of at least five lives and destruction of over 4,500 structures. The Missouri Restaurant Association, with support from Anheuser-Busch ($500K donation), established this relief fund to assist businesses and employees in the food and beverage industry impacted by the tornado.

Eligible Sectors:

• Restaurants
• Taverns
• Convenience stores
• Their staff (employees)

Eligible Expenses:

• Employee wages (for employees)
• Product spoilage
• Cleanup efforts
• Structural repairs
• Damage to business property or structure
• Loss of inventory or supplies
• Other expenses directly related to tornado impact

Eligibility Requirements:

• Located in the St. Louis area affected by the tornado
• Business or employee in restaurant, tavern, or convenience store sector
• Demonstrate impact from the tornado
• Complete application in full (incomplete applications will not be considered)

Distribution: Rolling, first-come, first-served basis; applications reviewed and processed as quickly as possible

Application Process

1. Complete the application form in full
2. Submit the application through the designated portal
3. Applications are reviewed and processed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis
4. Incomplete applications will not be eligible for consideration

Required Information

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Location in the tornado-affected St. Louis area
• Business/employment in eligible sector (restaurant, tavern, or convenience store)
• Specific impact from the tornado (loss of wages, property damage, inventory loss, cleanup/repair costs)
• Complete application documentation