Grants Now Available For Cranford Restaurants, Bars Amid Pandemic

CRANFORD, NJ — Rep. Tom Malinowski announced that as of noon on Monday, local restaurants, bars, and bakeries — particularly smaller establishments — could apply for $28.5 million in federal grant money to reimburse pandemic expenses or stay afloat as the crisis continues.

The money is part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed by the president in March. The funds can be used for restaurant salaries, rent, mortgage, personal protective equipment, supplies, and more.

To help out small businesses, the fund includes some money earmarked just for restaurants that had 2019 gross receipts of $500,000 or less. Restaurants owned by women, veterans, and those in disadvantaged communities will be prioritized for that fund.

Restaurant owners can visit SBA.gov/restaurants today to register for the SBA application portal, review program guidance, collect proper documentation, and view a sample application.

“Restaurant owners within our community have had to make extraordinary sacrifices within the past year," Malinowski said. "This fund provided by the American Rescue Plan is essential for keeping the doors open at our favorite local restaurants, and for rebuilding the New Jersey economy. I encourage restaurants in our district to take advantage of this federal program opening on Monday.”

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

Malinowski's office said that the funding "is based on the RESTAURANTS Act, which was cosponsored and championed by Rep. Malinowski. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023."

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