COVID-19 Resources for Food & Beverage Businesses and Restaurant Workers
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we will keep this guide updated as new financial resources are available. Leave a note in the comments if there are any additions or corrections. The most recent information available is at the top of each section. Last Updated March 26, 2020 at 2:15 p.m.
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Employee Relief
GoFundMe Pages
Status: Accepting Donations
Multiple crowdsourcing fundraisers have popped up as a result of restaurant layoffs. Some are for workers at large, individual restaurants, and hospitality groups. It is not yet clear how some of these funds will be allocated as they are independently organized. 30 is the new 20 is keeping track of them here.
Virginia employment Commission
Status: Accepting Applications
Restaurant workers with reduced hours or a layoff can apply for unemployment. Governor Ralph Northam has directed that the one week waiting period be suspended, as well as the requirement to conduct a weekly job search by those receiving unemployment insurance benefits. The agency has recommended workers impacted file a claim online or via phone.
National Suspension of Foreclosures and Evictions
Status: Pending
Trump ordered all foreclosures and evictions to be suspended until the end of April amid fight to stop the spread of coronavirus. It will provide relief for renters and homeowners.
Virginia Evictions Temporarily Suspended
Status: Active
The Supreme Court of Virginia has issued an order declaring a judicial emergency and is suspending all non-essential court cases including those involving new eviction cases for the next 21 days (as of March 17)
Suspension of Utility Disconnection
Status: Active
In response to an emergency petition the State Corporation Commission has blocked electric, gas, and water companies from disconnecting service for the next 60 days (as of March 18).
Holli Fund
Status: Accepting Applications & Donations
Holli Fund offers financial grants to those in the food service community experiencing an economic crisis such as injury, illness, death of an immediate family member, loss of wages or hours due to coronavirus restrictions, or other emergency.
Richmond Restaurant Workers Support Fund
This fund aims to help the most vulnerable of those workers through grants.
Economic Stimulus Package
Status: Pending
The federal government could be issuing a stimulus package around $1 trillion that would provide aid to individuals and businesses. Numbers have ranged from $1000 - $2000 per person.
USBG National Charity Foundation
Status: Acception Applications & Donations
This charitable arm of the United States Bartenders Guild has three: Social Responsibility, Community Service, & Philanthropy. They have set up a relief fund offering grants to those financially impacted by COVID-19. Bartenders, their spouses, or their children are eligible to apply for financial assistance.
Golden Rule Charity
Status: Accepting Applications & Donations
It has been the only organization providing timely relief to hospitality companies and employees in need, with a nationwide reach. Both employees and businesses are considered for grants. Payments are not made directly to the applicant, but directly to vendors.
Restaurant Workers Community Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund
Status: Accepting Applications & Donations
Restaurant Workers Community Foundation was founded in 2018 to advocate for gender equality, racial justice, fair wages, and healthy work environments in the restaurant industry. In the wake of the coronavirus, RWCF’s full focus is on supporting workers, small business owners, and an industry in crisis.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Recommendations
Status: Active
As you plan for the potential impact of the coronavirus, there are a number of steps that you can take, both in the short and long term, including working with your bank and credit card companies.
City of Richmond
Meals Tax Amnesty
Status: Active
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: the city has unrolled an amnesty program for restaurants “for all penalties and interest on most local taxes due between March 13 and June 30,” including payment on the city’s meals tax normally due to the city on the 20th of every month. The restaurants would still owe the city their March meals tax payment, but removing late fees would allow restaurants to pay the amount down the road without penalties so they can use their existing capital to pay staff and bills in the immediate future.
Suspension of Utility Disconnection
Status: Active
In the interest of public health and safety in response to the threat of COVID-19 and in consultation with Mayor Stoney, Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities is suspending all disconnections of water and wastewater service for non-payment.
Parking Regulations Lightened
Status: Active
To assist with takeout service, the city has lightened parking regulations to help with traffic flow at restaurants.
County of Henrico
HENRICO HOSPITALITY TAX RELIEF
Hotels and restaurants are able to push back the payment of the hotel tax and meals tax without penalty or interest to June 22, 2020. This relief effort will be re-evaluated and could possibly be re-enacted to extend the tax payment to a further date. But right now the date is June 22, 2020.
Virginia
Delivery Of Beer/Wine To Customer Vehicles
The ABC has also released information addressing allowing restaurants that have either a wine & beer on premises only ABC license or an on & off premises ABC licensee to deliver wine and beer to a customer curbside who is seated in a vehicle and parked in a designated parking area as long as the order was placed electronically
Sales Tax Deferment
Businesses impacted by COVID-19 can request to defer the payment of state sales tax due tomorrow, March 20, 2020, for 30 days. When granted, businesses will be able to file no later than April 20, 2020 with a waiver of any penalties.
Virginia Income Tax Extension
Status: Active
The Governor has requested that the Department of Taxation to extend the due date of payment of Virginia individual and corporate income taxes. While filing deadlines remain the same, the due date for individual and corporate income tax will now be June 1, 2020. Please note that interest will still accrue, so taxpayers who are able to pay by the original deadlines should do so.
Suspension of ABC Food-Beverage Ration and Distilled Spirit Sales
Status: Pending
The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association is lobbying the ABC to temporarily suspend minimum sales requirements or to use carryout sales towards the food-beverage ratio. They are also encouraging the ABC and the Governor's office to temporarily allow to-go distilled spirit sales.
Penalty Waiver For Unemployment Requests
Status: Active
Regional workforce teams will be activated to support employers that slow or cease operations. Employers who do slow or cease operations will not be financially penalized for an increase in workers requesting unemployment benefits.
Rapid Response Funding
Status: Pending
The Governor is authorizing rapid response funding, through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, for employers eligible to remain open during this emergency. Funds may be used to clean facilities and support emergency needs.
Suspension of Utility Disconnection
Status: Active
In response to an emergency petition the State Corporation Commission has blocked electric, gas, and water companies from disconnecting service for the next 60 days (as of March 18).
National
Economic Stimulus Package
Status: Pending
The Senate has passed the CARES Act that would provide economic relief to individuals and business owners. The bill must pass the House and signed by the president. The National Restaurant Associations interpretation of the bill can be read here.
U.S. tax filing day moved from April 15 to July 15
Status: Active
Tax Day is being pushed back until July while the nation copes with the effects of the coronavirus, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced Friday. (via NBC News)
Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan
Status: Active
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for each affected small business. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses and offer repayment plans up to 30 years.
Industry Bailout
Status: Pending
The National Restaurant Association is urging the government for funding to help the 15.6 million workers across the U.S. This request includes a $145 billion restaurant and food service industry recovery fund for grants to cover employee wages, operations and financial obligations, $100 billion in federally-backed business interruption insurance, and $35 billion for community block grants that typically go to businesses in areas hit by natural disasters and $45 billion in federal loans.
Facebook Grant Program
Status: Pending
Facebook announced an investment of $100 million to help 30,000 small businesses in over 30 countries. These grants are in the form of cash and ad credits.
Take Action
Petitions and surveys help government leaders make decisions and provide assistance. Take action below.
Additional Resources
As a business owner, there are a few other steps you can take.
Ask your landlord about rent abatement.
Check our your insurance to find your business interruption or event cancelation policies.
Read this great Restaurant Strategy & Survival Kit from our friend Rebecca Thomas