Restaurant Revitalization Fund
We're offering grants to support restaurants and workers.
The Restaurant Revitalization Program (RRP) is a three-month pilot. We plan to provide a much-needed lifeline to restaurants as they recover from COVID-19. This program is a partnership between the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion and the Office of Workforce Development.
About the program
This Fund will support restaurants located in the City of Boston. Businesses will receive $5,000 to cover any business-related expense. These funds are not required to be tied to rent or payroll.
This grant will also provide a retention bonus to new and existing employees during the three-month pilot period for a total of $900 per worker ($300 per month).
At the end of the three-month period, employees will be eligible for tuition assistance towards an accredited college or university. Instead of school, employees are also eligible to apply the assistance toward an occupational skills training program with an existing Workforce Development partnership.
Restaurants that have tipped employees are eligible to receive an additional $15,000 grant if they:
- pay the One Fair Wage ($12.75 per hour) to tipped employees for one month
- complete High Road Kitchens’ Equity Toolkit and Training program within nine months of receiving grant funds
- complete City of Boston OED survey, and
- share a written plan for achieving full wage parity for tipped and non-tipped employees within five years (by August 2026).
- These funds may only be used for expenses incurred between March 3, 2021 - December 31, 2024.
How to apply
Applications opened on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 9 a.m. and closed on Friday, September 24, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
- be a current food business in the City of Boston
- have a valid Vendor ID from the City of Boston
- have less than 25 employees
- have proof of a Boston business address (for example, a signed lease, business permit, license, or title, a utility bill in which the business is named directly, or other home office documentation)
- be in good-standing with the City of Boston, along with the business owner
- provide a copy of its up-to-date Business Certificate, and
- provide proof of payroll (for example, a recent pay or wage statement, bank statement, or proof of paystubs) if there are more than two employees.