SBA Seattle District launches Restaurant Revitalization Fund webinar collection | Coronavirus

SEATTLE – The US Small Business Administration (SBA) Seattle District is launching a series of webinars on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) designed to assist local restaurants and eligible entities in preparing to apply for the funding program.

“Our district has more than 20,000 small businesses in the hospitality and catering industry, which make up about two-thirds of the jobs in the sector. Ensuring their survival and success is vital to our local economy, workforce and livelihood, ”said Kerrie Hurd, SBA district director in Seattle. “This series of webinars, coupled with targeted contact, is part of our local strategy to give eligible companies fair access to restaurant revitalization funds.”

The American Rescue Plan Act set up the RRF with $ 28.6 billion to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open.

This program provides restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related lost revenue of up to $ 10 million per business and a maximum of $ 5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funds as long as the funds are used for eligible purposes by March 11, 2023 at the latest. An application date has not yet been announced.

The live webinars provide an overview of the RRF who is eligible to apply, how much money applicants can potentially receive, how funds can be used, how and when to apply, and where to get technical assistance with the application. Each session will also include a live Q&A segment so attendees can ask specific questions of the SBA representatives.

The free webinar series starts on April 22nd and will be offered on the following dates and times. Registration required:

The following eligible companies that have experienced a pandemic-related loss of revenue are invited to participate:

• Food stalls, food trucks, food trucks

• Bars, salons, lounges, taverns

• Bars for snacks and soft drinks

• Bakeries (on-site sales to the public represent at least 33% of gross receipts)

• Brew pubs, tasting rooms, taprooms (sales to the public on site make up at least 33% of gross income)

• Breweries and / or microbreweries (on-site sales to the public represent at least 33% of gross receipts)

• Wineries and distilleries (on-site sales to the public represent at least 33% of gross receipts)

• Guest houses (the sale of food and beverages to the local public accounts for at least 33% of gross income)

• Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol manufacturer where the public can try, try, or buy products

Before the start of the application, the SBA will set up a seven-day pilot phase for the RRF application portal. The pilot phase is used to solve technical problems before the public launch. Participants in this pilot will be randomly selected from existing PPP borrowers in priority groups for RRF and will not receive funding until the application portal is open to the public.

After the pilot project, the application portal will be opened to the public. For the first 21 days that the program is open, the SBA will give priority to considering applications from small businesses belonging to women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged people. After the 21-day period has expired, all eligible applicants will be invited to submit applications.