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AMSTERDAM, NY—Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that restaurants in New York’s Capital Region can start applying for direct relief through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund starting on Monday, May 3, at 12:00 p.m. ET, and he is recommending that they start the process early by registering ASAP via the U.S. Small Business Administration application portal.

“Our Capital Region’s independent restaurants are cornerstones of our communities, yet they are among the businesses hit hardest by this pandemic and most in need of financial help,” said Tonko. “That’s one of the reasons I fought so hard to get this lifeline of direct relief for them and their employees as part of our American Rescue Plan. The swift return of our restaurants and other hospitality businesses will be a key catalyst for of our region’s full recovery. I urge all of our eligible establishments who need the help to start the application process as soon as possible.”

The $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund was created by the American Rescue Plan that Rep. Tonko helped pass and get signed into law last month. The law incorporated key provisions from the RESTAURANTS Act, which Rep. Tonko also co-sponsored last term.

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund will provide restaurants and other eligible businesses with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business. The relief does not have to be repaid, provided that the funds are put toward eligible uses by March 11, 2023.

• Find a funding guide HERE and a sample application HERE.
• Visit SBA.gov/restaurants for more information.

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund application portal can be accessed at https://restaurants.sba.gov/requests/borrower/login/. Participating POS providers include Square, Toast, Clover, NCR Corporation (Aloha). Entities that work with Square or Toast, you do not need to register beforehand on the portal.

Entities eligible to apply:

• 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

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