Division to issue grants of up to $10,000 to help make up for loss of business

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo today announced a relief program for restaurants, bars, and other such businesses that have been ordered to close earlier than usual because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Using federal Coronavirus Relief Funds, the Governor authorized the payment of grants to these impacted businesses.

Under the program, the Rhode Island Department of Revenue’s Division of Taxation will provide grants to bars and restaurants adversely impacted by COVID-19.

Each such grant will range from a minimum of $2,000 to a maximum of $10,000. The grants are intended to help offset the loss in business.

Governor Raimondo developed the relief program to coincide with her Executive Order that will mandate early shutdown for bars and restaurants: Effective on Sunday, November 8, 2020, all restaurants, bars, and certain other facilities must end service at 10:00 p.m. on weeknights and 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. (Restaurants may stay open after the new closing hours for take-out and drive-in only.)

The new provisions involving closing hours will remain in effect for two weeks, she said. They are part of a range of measures aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus and reducing the rising number of coronavirus cases. “We’re not alone. Cases are spiking actually all over the world,” Governor Raimondo said.

The relief program is a recognition that “businesses are really struggling, particularly our smallest businesses,” and that the hospitality industry in particular “has been hit hardest all over the world,” she said.

The relief program will be paid for through federal funds that have been made available to the states for pandemic relief. The Division of Taxation will soon post an application form that the affected businesses must complete in order to apply for a grant. The application deadline will be Monday, November 16, 2020. The Division expects to begin mailing program checks on or before Monday, November 30, 2020, to those applicants who qualify for the grants.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE DIVISION OF TAXATION REGARDING THIS PROGRAM.
DEVELOPING INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED ON THE DIVISION’S WEBSITE: WWW.TAX.RI.GOV

Please see original press release here.