Latest news with #RestaurantReliefGrant
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
51 Rockford restaurants receive $189K in COVID-19 pandemic relief grants
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Fifty-one Rockford restaurants will share $189,871 in COVID-19 pandemic relief grants to offset high unemployment taxes. Each business received different amounts, depending on their tax liability. The highest grant awarded by the Illinois Restaurant Relief Grant was $21,622. 'The Restaurant Relief Grant is making a real difference for our local hospitality industry,' said John Groh, President/CEO of GoRockford. 'These businesses shape our community identity, spark creativity and create vital jobs. We're proud to see another round of funding go to the hardworking restaurant, bar, and coffee shop owners whose passion helps Rockford and our region grow, thrive and remain a vibrant place to live and visit.' The funding aims to help with the financial strain placed on restaurants due to unemployment tax payments incurred during government-ordered shutdowns during the pandemic. The following restaurants received grants in the third round of the program: 27 Aluna @ Octane Abreo Restaurant Alchemy at Aldeen/ Gio events Alpine View Restaurant Broadway Joe's (Dusty Boots Saloon) Carlyle Brewing Casey's Pub Culver's of Winnebago District Bar & Grill Don Carter Lanes Famous Dave's Rockford Forest Hills Lanes Franchesco's Ristorante Golden Corral Greenfire Restaurant & Bakery Hoffman House Hope & Anchor English Pub J. W. Marc's Fusion Café Joe's Casa Di Amici Johnny Pamcakes Johnny Pamcakes Too John's Restaurant LimaMar Restaurant Lucha Cantina Machine Shed Mary's Market Mulligan's of Rockford Murphy's Pub & Grill Onyx Bar & Grill Oscar's Pub & Grill Park Lanes Pig Minds Pizza Ranch Rookie's Pub & Grill Rusty Nail Tavern Scanlan's Spider Sushi Stockholm Inn Stockyard Rock Burger Bar/Half Baked Bar Tad's Bar & Grill Tavern on Clark Thai Hut Restaurant The Cherry Bowl The Filling Station The Norwegian The Olympic Tavern The Pomodoro Thunderbay Grill Tower Kitchen & Bar Viking Lanes Vintage @501/TacoLibre This is the third round of funding from the grant program, which has administered $855,158 to local businesses in total. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rockford restaurants, bars, coffee shops eligible for new COVID-19 relief grants
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Bars and coffee shops that serve food are now eligible for relief money to help offset the impact of state-mandated closures that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. GoRockford, formerly the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, is providing a third round of its Restaurant Relief Grant program, now including certain bars and coffee shops. 'Restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are cornerstones of our community, offering more than food and drink—they're places where connections are made and traditions are celebrated,' said Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford). 'Expanding this program to include bars and coffee shops ensures we're addressing a wider range of needs in our community and helping these small businesses sustain their vital role in our local economy.' The maximum award a qualifying business can receive has been set at $100,000. So far, the state-funded program has paid out $665,286 to 39 restaurants for financial damage related to staff layoffs and unemployment claims from when businesses were ordered to close. opened on February 3rd and will close on February 28th. Eligibility: To apply, an authorized representative of a restaurant will need to certify that: The restaurant's principal place of business is located within Winnebago County, Illinois. The restaurant complied with the indoor dining closure mandates enacted by the State of Illinois during Q1 and Q2, of 2021 via Executive Orders 2021-01, 2021-02, 2021-03, 2021-04, 2021-05, 2021-6, 2021-9, and 2021-10. In complying with indoor dining closure mandates in Q1 and Q2 of 2021, the restaurant laid off staff and, as a result, has experienced higher unemployment benefit charges in Q1 and Q2 2021. The restaurant incurred a higher rate of state unemployment taxes in 2022, 2023 and 2024 because of the higher unemployment benefit charges in Q1and Q2, of 2021. The restaurant remains operational today. The grants will be distributed after applications are reviewed by a professional panel consisting of Bridget Coleman, CPA, Coleman CPA & Accounting; Jennifer Furst, President, Furst Staffing; Carrie Hagerty, Finance Director, City of Rockford; Linda Heckert, President, Northwest Bank; John J. Morrissey, President/CEO, Staff Management; and John Schuster, Retired CFO, Rosecrance Health Network. Required application documents for first time applicants: W-9 for Restaurant 2021 Restaurant Tax Return IL Dept. of Employment Security form BEN-118 – Statement of Benefit Charges for Q1 and Q2, 2021 IL Dept. of Employment Security Rate Determination letter for 2022, 2023 and 2024 State Unemployment Tax Reports for 2022, 2023 and 2024 Proof of payment of State Unemployment Taxes for 2022, 2023 and 2024 Required application documents for applicants who applied in Round 1 and/or 2: State Unemployment Tax Reports for Q3 and Q4 2024 Proof of payment of State Unemployment Taxes for Q3 and Q4 2024 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
