Hoboken Mayor Encourages Local Restaurants To Apply For New Grant

HOBOKEN, NJ — Mayor Ravi Bhalla encouraged business owners this week to apply for a new grant to help them reimburse funds already spent, and help keep them afloat in the future, during the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

"For days 1-21 of the application period," Bhalla noted in a message to Hoboken residents, "the SBA will give priority to businesses primarily owned by women, veterans, or economically disadvantaged individuals. From day 22 on, the application period will open up to all remaining applicants."

Employers can visit SBA.gov/restaurants to get information, register for the SBA application portal, or view a sample application.

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

On Wednesday, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced that more than 186,000 applications had already been filed from restaurants and other food and beverage businesses in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

"The promising results send a clear message," she said. "The SBA is here to help America’s restaurants and bars get back on track."

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