Chew on this
Local food and drink business owners might be feeling a little relief this week. That’s because the application process for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) “opened” on Monday at 3 p.m.
What’s that? Let me explain. The RRF is a federal program run through the Small Business Association (SBA) that will give out $28.6 billion in tax-free grants to restaurants and other eligible businesses (like food trucks, bars, and breweries) to help them keep their lights on. The money is part of the bigger $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) from the Biden administration.
This program will provide eligible businesses with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location.
This money is a grant. Meaning, unlike with the Paycheck Protection Program, it does not have to be paid back so long as the funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
Who’s eligible? For the first three weeks, applications are open to anyone to apply (and you should!) but the first one to be processed and paid out will be restaurants that are majority-owned by women, veterans, and "socially and economically disadvantaged" applicants. After that, grants will be funded in the order that they’ve been approved by the SBA.
Interested? Head to the SBA’s site for a more thorough breakdown.
In more food-related news…
🥕 The new partnership between 4Roots and The Farmacy is some good food news we can use. The nonprofit food initiative and the organic grocery retail store have teamed up to launch an expanded online grocery service that supports local farmers. Beautiful, right? (Bungalower)
- Related: There’s always something cool going down at The Farmacy like the time Chef Lordfer from @kaya.orlando popped up in their kitchen. (The Farmacy on Instagram)
🎉 Word on the street is that Tavistock is hoping to keep Boxi Park around for at least another year. The big Lake Nona developer has filed an extension for its temporary use permit for Boxi Park which expires on May 29. They’re allowed to file an extension each year until 2025. (GrowthSpotter — noted: This story is behind a paywall!)
🐷 Brother Jimmy's, a New York southern comfort food and BBQ spot, is coming to ICON Park this summer. If you like football, barbecue, southern fried chicken, Carolina pulled pork and living like a tourist, this spot’s for you. (WKMG)
🤯 Did you know that you can order Winter Park Biscuit Co. online? Monumental, I know. Online ordering is avail Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Winter Park Biscuit Co. on Instagram)
🍻 You're "PhoSho" going to want to partake in this pho-inspired beer collab between Tactical Brewing Co. and Viet-Nomz. The brew will be a gose featuring pho spices like Thai basil, lime, and jalapenos and will debut at the Baldwin Park brewery at noon on Friday with Viet-Nomz food truck attending from 6-9 p.m. (Bungalower)
