RI Rebounds Hospitality, Tourism, and Events Grant Program

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The RI Rebounds Hospitality, Tourism, and Events Grant Program will provide up to $8 million in direct payments to businesses and organizations that suffered significant negative impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The RI Rebounds Hospitality, Tourism, and Events Grant Program is divided into 3 distinct funding areas:

• Restaurants and event professionals;
• Hotels, travel agencies, and tour operators; and
• Arts and culture.

Announcement: The application has closed.

Restaurants and Event Professionals Application Closed

Eligibility. To be eligible, applicants must:

1. Be a Rhode Island business* or nonprofit operating before January 27, 2020, in one of the following industries::
   
   
   • • Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, breweries, wineries, distilleries, caterers, food trucks, or other food service providers;
     • Event professionals (at least 50% of total income must be event-related) including but not limited to photographers, videographers, florists, limousine services, event planners, event rentals, performers, convention and trade show organizers, hair and make-up professionals; and
     • Valet service providers.
2. Have experienced a COVID-related revenue loss in 2021 of at least 25% relative to 2019.
3. NOT be a nationally or regionally owned chain.
4. NOT be permanently closed, NOT be in or considering federal bankruptcy or state receivership, and NOT be on the federal do not pay list.
5. NOT have received funding from the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).

* Note: If you are a sole proprietorship, your annual business revenue must comprise at least 20% of your total annual earnings.

Please review the FAQ  for more information and the full list of eligibility requirements.

Award amounts. Grant award amounts for restaurants and event professionals will be up to $12,500. Awards will be calculated as follows:

• • For qualifying recipients of the RI Rebounds Small Business Grant Program: $7,500.
  • For all other qualifying businesses: $12,500.

Hotels, Travel Agencies, and Tour Operators Application Closed

Eligibility. To be eligible, applicants must:

1. Be a Rhode Island business* or nonprofit operating before January 27, 2020, in one of the following industries:
   
   
   • • Hotels (excluding Airbnbs and vacation rentals);
     • Tour operators; or
     • Travel agents.
2. Have experienced a COVID-related revenue loss in 2021 of at least 35% of 2019 revenues.
3. Be currently open and operating. NOT be in or considering federal bankruptcy or state receivership and NOT be on the federal do not pay list.
4. NOT be a publicly traded business/organization or a business/organization that is majority-owned by a publicly traded company.

* Note: If you are a sole proprietorship, your annual business revenue must comprise at least 20% of your total annual earnings.

Please review the FAQ for more information and the full list of eligibility requirements.

Award amounts. Grant award amounts will be up to a maximum of $250,000 or the organization’s net financial need, whichever is less, based on criteria which may include number of eligible applications received, level of financial need expressed, industry representation, and employment levels. Although award amounts will be calculated based on the criteria described above, it is anticipated that eligible businesses with fewer than ten employees will receive awards of approximately $12,500.

Arts and Culture Application Closed

Eligibility. To be eligible, you must:

1. Be a Rhode Island business* or nonprofit operating before January 27, 2020, in one of the following industries:
   1. • Arts education organizations (excluding higher education institutions);
      • Arts or cultural venues;
      • Museums; or
      • Performing or visual arts organizations (including dance studios).
2. Have experienced a COVID-related revenue loss in 2021 of at least 35% compared to 2019.
3. Spend at least 20% of your operating budget on rent or performance space OR own your facility OR have received the SBA’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
4. NOT be a nationally or regionally owned chain.
5. NOT be permanently closed, NOT be in or considering federal bankruptcy or state receivership, and NOT be on the federal do not pay list.

* Note: If you are a sole proprietorship, your annual business revenue must comprise at least 20% of your total annual earnings.

Please review the FAQ for more information and the full list of eligibility requirements.

Award Amounts. Grant award amounts will be sized based on each organization’s 2021 net need up to a maximum of $250,000 or the organization’s 2021 net need, whichever is less. Actual award amounts will depend on the number of applications received and the level of financial need expressed.

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