The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced that it will begin registrations for its Restaurant Revitalization Fund on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT and open applications on Monday, May 3, 2021, at noon EDT. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.

Established under the American Rescue Plan, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides a total of $28.6 billion in direct relief funds to restaurants and other hard-hit food establishments that have experienced economic distress and significant operational losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Funds must be used for allowable expenses by March 11, 2023. 

In preparation, the SBA recommends qualifying applicants familiarize themselves with the application process in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient application experience, specifically by:

• Registering for an account in advance at sba.gov starting Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT.
• Reviewing the official guidance, including program guide, frequently asked questions, and application sample.
• Preparing the required documentation.
• Working with a point-of-sale vendor or visiting sba.gov to submit an application when the application portal opens. [Note: If an applicant is working with a point-of-sale vendor, they do not need to register beforehand on the site.]
• Attending a live recorded virtual training webinar.
• Tuesday, April 27 | 2:30 p.m. EDT | Register here
• Wednesday, April 28 | 1 p.m. EDT | Register here
• Wednesday, April 28 | 2:30 p.m. EDT | Register here