COVID-19 Restaurant Relief Programs

Governments and hospitality organizations alike are banding together to help restaurateurs in need with relief measures and programs to alleviate some of the financial burden brought on by COVID-19. Below, you’ll find a list of available programs in different regions available for restaurants.

The 7shifts team will continue updating this resource as the situation evolves and new programs are rolled out. Follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn to receive more updates or send in your suggestions.

Last updated April 7th, 2020.

Relief programs for restaurant owners & employers

Where?	From who?	Details	Amount
USA	The US Government	The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) alleviates some of the economic and medical impact put on American people and businesses during the COVID-19 health crisis. Provides financial relief for small businesses, corporate tax provisions, and expanded unemployment and benefits coverage to employees.	Varies
USA	USGB National Charity Foundation	Bartender emergency assistance program for bartenders, spouses, and their children affected.	Varies
USA	One Fair Wage	Free cash assistance to restaurant workers, delivery drivers and other tipped workers and service workers — who are seeing their income decline during this disaster, or aren’t able to work because of quarantines or other health concerns.	Varies
USA	U.S Small Business Administration	Low-interest loans up to $2 million through the Small Business Administration for states impacted by COVID-19.	up to $2 million
USA	Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation	RWCF COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund providing funds to individual restaurant workers and zero-interest loans for restaurants to get up and running.	Varies
USA – NYC	NYC Government	Zero-interest loans of up to $75,000 for businesses with less than 100 employees. 40% of payroll costs covered for businesses with less than 5 employees.	up to $75,000
USA – Sacramento	Rethink	Rethink has set up a Restaurant Response Program to assist with food need and access during times of crisis.	up to $40,000
USA – San Francisco	City of Sacramento Government	Zero-interest loans of up to $25,000 to help businesses affected by COVID-19.	up to $25,000
USA – Seattle	Seattle Office of Economic Development	Seattle Office of Economic Development grants of up to $10,000 for small business owners who make 80 percent or less of the area’s median income, have a physical location, and 5 or fewer employees.	up to $10,000
USA – Seattle	Amazon	Amazon’s Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund cash grants for South Lake Union and Regrade small businesses. For businesses with less than $7 million in annual revenue or fewer than 50 employees within a few blocks of its Seattle headquarters.	Varies
USA – Seattle	Amazon	Amazon’s Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund cash grants for South Lake Union and Regrade small businesses. For businesses with less than $7 million in annual revenue or fewer than 50 employees within a few blocks of its Seattle headquarters.	Varies
Various – 30 countries	Facebook	Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries here Facebook operates	Varies
Canada	Government of Canada	To support businesses that are facing revenue losses and to help prevent lay-offs, the government is proposing to provide eligible small employers a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Businesses will be able to benefit immediately from this support by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on their employees’ remuneration.	$1375 per employee and $25,000 per employer
Canada	BDC	Low-interest loans up to $100,000 if your business has been generating revenues for at least 24 months.	up to $100,000
Canada – Saskatchewan	SK Government	Self-Isolation Support Program: Administered by the Ministry of Finance, the program will provide $450 per week, for a maximum of two weeks or $900. Applies to small business owners who are affected directly by COVID-19.	up to $900
UK	UK Government	Recover 2 weeks of sick pay due to COVID-19 for businesses with fewer than 250 employees. £3,000 for businesses whose property’s rateable value is less than £15,000.	2 weeks of sick pay or £3,000
UK – Scotland	Scotland Government	75% rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a rateable value of less than £69,000 from April 1, 2020.	75% rates relief
UK – Scotland	Scotland Government	Grants of at least £3,000 to small businesses in sectors facing the worst economic impact of COVID-19.	£3,000+

Relief programs for restaurant staff & employees

Where?	From who?	Details	Amount
USA	The US Government	The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) alleviates some of the economic and medical impact put on American people and businesses during the COVID-19 health crisis. Provides expanded unemployment and benefits coverage to employees.	Varies
USA	USGB National Charity Foundation	Bartender emergency assistance program for bartenders, spouses, and their children affected.	Varies
USA	One Fair Wage	Free cash assistance to restaurant workers, delivery drivers and other tipped workers and service workers — who are seeing their income decline during this disaster, or aren’t able to work because of quarantines or other health concerns.	Varies
Canada	Government of Canada	Emergency Care Benefit—providing financial support to employees who do not have access to paid sick leave or are taking care of sick family members.	up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks
Canada	Government of Canada	Long-term support for employees who can’t access EI and who are facing unemployment.	Varies
Canada – Alberta	Alberta Government	The Alberta government is offering an Emergency Isolation Support program to provide a one-time fee of $1,146 to employees without access to EI.	$1,146
Canada – BC	BC Government	BC Emergency Benefit for Workers: The BC government has introduced a one-time, tax free payment of $1,000 to BC workers whose work has been affected by COVID-19.	$1,000

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