By Emily Chesnic
There remains time for local bar and restaurant owners to secure a State of Ohio grant opportunity, which is being given to help businesses monetarily, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively affect sales.
The Ohio Department of Commerce recently announced Summit County establishments, including those in the Nordonia Hills community, still may apply for the available bar and restaurant grant dollars.
The Bar and Assistance Fund is assisting on-premises liquor permit holders in the state. Gov. Mike DeWine designated $38.7 million of funding from the federal CARES Act fund to provide $2,500 in assistance payments to all state on-premises liquor permit holders to aid them through financial difficulties being experienced due to the pandemic.
According to state information on the grant funding, “permit holders have not been fully able to use their liquor permits and it has had an impact on their businesses.”
In accordance with the program, every eligible on-premises permit holder will receive the $2,500 in funding, per business location, as the grant is not competitive. Having employees is not a requirement for the $2,500 assistance payment.
The $2,500 assistance payment does not need to be repaid but must be used on COVID-19 expenses related to the business interruptions caused by the pandemic, according to the Department of Commerce.
Permit holders should submit their permit numbers and federal tax information at businesshelp.ohio.gov, click here to apply, before Dec. 30, Business owners are being encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible to secure funding.
Once the application has been submitted, each applicant will receive an email confirming successful submission.
For additionally information, including answers to questions concerning the grant program, visit Ohio Department Of Commerce | Division Of Liquor Control.