The restaurant industry was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many restaurant operators have struggled to secure financial support to help them keep the lights on. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) – both government-funded programs, the former a loan and the latter a grant – ran out of funding almost immediately after opening.
Since then, several industry groups – including the James Beard Foundation and Black Restaurant Week LLC – along with corporations like American Express, DoorDash, and Grubhub have joined the effort to support restaurant operators in this difficult season.
Here’s a look at industry programs that have provided relief funds, and in some cases business support, with no repayment necessary.
