Restaurant Revitalization Fund - Act Now - the Portal is Open

Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)

The American Rescue Plan Act put in place the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to help restaurants and other eligible businesses with funding. The Small Business Administration (SBA) application portal opens today, Friday, April 30, 2021 at 9 am. Applications will be available on Monday, May 3, 2021 at noon.

If you have been in business from January 2020 through March 2021, start pulling the information together now so you can apply when the portal application opens. Below, we have pulled some of the important items to know from SBA.gov .

Who is Eligible

Eligible entities who have experienced pandemic-related revenue loss include:

• Restaurants
• Food stands, food trucks, food carts
• Caterers
• Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
• Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars
• Bakeries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Breweries and/or microbreweries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Wineries and distilleries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Inns (onsite sales of food and beverage to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products

Even those that were just starting out in Q1 of 2020, and unable to prove loss of gross receipts, are still eligible for assistance. This is great, as mostly everything offered previously has been weighted on the previous revenues and incurred loss. Instead of prior year proof of receipts, they will take into account the business plan/model for the newly opened business in 2020.

How to Apply

Check out the RRF page, here, on the SBA website for application process. You have 2 options, you can apply through your SBA-recognized Point of Sale system or through the online application portal. Use this link to access the sample application, SBA Form 3172, and prepare what will be needed to apply. You can also access this RRF guide to help you through the process.

Additional Documentation Needed to Apply

Additional documentation required:

• Verification for Tax Information: IRS Form 4506-T, completed and signed by Applicant. Completion of this form digitally on the SBA platform will satisfy this requirement.
• Gross Receipts Documentation: Any of the following documents demonstrating gross receipts and, if applicable, eligible expenses
  • Business tax returns (IRS Form 1120 or IRS 1120-S)
  • IRS Forms 1040 Schedule C; IRS Forms 1040 Schedule F
  • For a partnership: partnership’s IRS Form 1065 (including K-1s)
  • Bank statements
  • Externally or internally prepared financial statements such as Income Statements or Profit and Loss Statements
  • Point of sale report(s), including IRS Form 1099-K

For applicants that are a brewpub, tasting room, taproom, brewery, winery, distillery, or bakery:

• Documents evidencing that onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33.00% of gross receipts for 2019, which may include Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) Forms 5130.9 or TTB. For businesses who opened in 2020, the Applicant’s original business model should have contemplated at least 33.00% of gross receipts in onsite sales to the public. 

For applicants that are an inn:

• Documents evidencing that onsite sales of food and beverage to the public comprise at least 33.00% of gross receipts for 2019.

Other Important Items to Highlight

For businesses who opened in 2020, the Applicant’s original business model should have contemplated at least 33.00% of gross receipts in onsite sales to the public.

The PPP loan dollars that you previously applied for and received will be deducted from the gross receipts calculation. So as long as your 2019 gross receipts exceed what you received in gross receipts for 2020 and the funds received under the PPP loan in 2020 you will be able to apply for relief through this fund.

EIDL loan amounts received are not included in this application calculation consideration.

Allowable Use of the Funds

• Business payroll costs (including sick leave)
• Payments on any business mortgage obligation
• Business rent payments (note: this does not include prepayment of rent)
• Business debt service (both principal and interest; note: this does not include any prepayment of principal or interest)
• Business utility payments
• Business maintenance expenses
• Construction of outdoor seating
• Business supplies (including protective equipment and cleaning materials)
• Business food and beverage expenses (including raw materials)
• Covered supplier costs
• Business operating expenses

We, at Libertate Insurance Services, wish you luck in this process.

Join the Conversation on Linkedin   |   About PEO Compass

The PEO Compass is a friendly convergence of professionals and friends in the PEO industry sharing insights, ideas and intelligence to make us all better.

All writers specialize in Professional Employer Organization (PEO) business services such as Workers Compensation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Data Management, Employment Practices Liability (EPLI), Cyber Liability Insurance, Health Insurance, Occupational Accident Insurance, Business Insurance, Client Company, Casualty Insurance, Disability Insurance and more.

To contact a PEO expert, please visit Libertate Insurance Services, LLC and RiskMD.