Image Credit: NYC SBS
The Fair Share NYC: Restaurants Program helps to provide funds to restaurants that were hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic by connecting them to federal grants. On April 28, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Department of Small Business Services announced the launch of Fair Share NYC: Restaurants. This new program will help connect restaurants to federal relief funds.
Fair Share NYC will assist restaurant applicants through weekly webinars to review the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Grant Program; assistance in application preparation; virtual one-on-one sessions with trained counselors; and provide information about additional programs and services that may be of help.
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund Grant Program will be providing the non-taxable grants to restaurants that apply who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual restaurants may qualify for up to $5 million in funding. Restaurant groups may qualify for up to $10 million in funding.
The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and the Office of Nightlife will be conducting outreach to restaurants through email lists, social media, and third-party industry groups in the coming weeks.
Fair Share NYC: Restaurants is similar to other initiatives to connect businesses to federal funding like Fair Share NYC: PPP and Curtains UP NYC. Both programs launched earlier this year and have helped other kinds of businesses with acquiring grants.
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund opened on April 30th and Applications were opened on May 3rd. Veteran, women, and minority owned businesses will receive priority within the first 21 days of the program. Language line assistance will be offered. For more information visit www.nyc.gov/restaurantfund or call 888-SBS-4NYC.
Mayor de Blasio stated, “New York City’s restaurants have worked tirelessly to keep the lights on, keep their workers employed, and keep their neighborhoods vibrant. Now, it is time to connect them to the support they deserve. We can’t afford to let local restaurants fall through the cracks, and I’m proud to give every establishment the resources to access federal assistance.”
Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services Jonnel Doris stated, “The restaurant industry is essential to New York City’s social and economic fabric but has faced unprecedented financial challenges as we navigated the health crisis. The Department of Small Business Services will continue to serve on the frontline of recovery by helping connect our City’s restaurants to this federal grant.”
Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Anne del Castillo stated, “We know how essential our restaurant and hospitality industry is to New York City’s recovery and how difficult this past year has been for the industry. We will continue to make sure our restaurants have the support, resources and guidance they need to get back on their feet.”
By: Patrick McNeill (Patrick is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2022.)