Restaurant Revitalization Fund: Act Now Before Year End
By Michele Valenti, Manager, Assurance Services
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (“RRF”) was a lifeline for food and beverage providers, helping them rebuild from the effects of pandemic-related revenue loss. The RRF, established under the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”), became public law on March 11, 2021. ARPA appropriated $28.6 billion for RRF, authorizing the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to award funds.
Eligible entities were businesses that were not permanently closed, where the public or patrons assembled for the primary purpose of being served food or drink. The SBA may provide funding up to $5 million per location, not to exceed $10 million total for the applicant and any affiliated businesses. The funds can be used for eligible expenses such as payroll, rent, business mortgage obligations, business debt service, business utility payments, business supplies, business food and beverage expenses, business maintenance expenses, construction of outdoor seating, and business operating expenses, which is defined as business expenses incurred through normal business operations that are necessary and mandatory for the business (e.g., rent, equipment, supplies, inventory, accounting, training, legal, marketing, insurance, licenses, fees).
Awardees must use all Restaurant Revitalization funds on eligible expenses incurred beginning on February 15, 2020, and ending on March 11, 2023. If the business permanently closes, the covered period will end when the business permanently closes or March 11, 2023, whichever occurs sooner. Awardees that are unable to use all Restaurant Revitalization funds on eligible expenses by the end of the covered period must return any unused funds to the government.
SBA Application Portal
The SBA application portal to validate use of funds is currently open.
Before December 31, 2021, all applicants are required to report through the application portal how much of their award has been used against each eligible use category. If the applicant fully expends their funds prior to December 31, 2021, they will be asked to certify in the application portal that proceeds have been used on eligible expenses. All applicants that do not fully expend award funds prior to December 31, 2021, will be required to complete annual reporting submissions until they fully expend the award funding or the period of performance expires. SBA reserves the right to request supplemental documentation needed to validate the certification.
The login is the same login used to apply for funding. For other questions and support, contact the call center at 844-279-8898.
Tracker templates are available for businesses to organize and manage required documentation. Contact your Marcum Advisors for guidance.
