Various small businesses in and around Winter Park recently received funding from a federal stimulus program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which was established by the American Rescue Plan Act to assist restaurants that lost revenue during the pandemic. The program is aimed at providing funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open, paying monetary grants equal to their pre-pandemic revenue loss up to $10 million.
According to the program, recipients do not have to return funding as long as the money is used for eligible expenses no later than March 2023. Eligible expenses for the grant funds include payroll, mortgage(s), utilities, rent, construction to implement outdoor seating, food and beverage inventory, cleaning supplies, and other maintenance and restaurant expenses.
Based on an online report, which reflects data through June 30, just over 101,000 restaurants across the nation have received funding from the RRF, totaling $28,574,979,472. In Florida, the SBA reports 5,756 eligible businesses have received funding as of June 30, 2021, and Florida grants awarded throughout the state total nearly $2 billion.
As reported in the Orlando Sentinel, some of the Winter Park small businesses to receive federal funding through the RRF include:
- Ethos Vegan Kitchen: $776,677.00
- Eden’s Fresh Co.: $490,998.00
- Black Bean Deli [Libre Enterprises]: $298,147.00
- Chez Vincent: $262,301.95
- Big Daddy’s [AW Beverage]: $189,657.50
- 310 Park South: $94,237.00
- Fiddler’s Green [Erris]: $91,115.00
- Tabla Indo-Chinese and Thai [Gourmet Chefs Li, LLC]: $86,406.07
- KrungThep Tea Time: $59,169.71
- Vannam: $52,970.00
- San Julian’s Hills Coffee LLC: $47,115.38
- Kiko Japanese Cuisine: $42,689.50
- Nina’s Catering Company: $35,232.18
- Vines & Forks at The Wine Barn [Infinitely Natural, LLC]: $34,091.00
- Aloha Productions Luau: $32,793.93
- Mels Catering, LLC: $31,573.45
- Cap’s Kitchen Creations: $19,487.00
- Dragon Bowl Ramen: $19,050.00
- Amazeballs, LLC: $14,757.04
- Planet Smoothie/ Smooth Sunshine: $13,834.00
- Lee Chow Food for Foodies: $9,472
- Coterie Coffee Co: $2,684.30
According to the SBA, 17,238 applications were submitted to the group, totaling over $4 billion in requests for federal funding. Publicly traded companies consisting of 20 or more locations were not eligible to receive grants.
For more information on the grant program, visit the Small Business Association website.