Restaurant Fund & Grants

Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants are closed, and there is no active federal replacement program for 2026, but restaurants can still access a mix of SBA loans and newer state, local, and private relief grants.

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Status in 2025–2026

• The original $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) program is no longer accepting new applications; the SBA marks the program as closed and only references it as a past COVID‑19 relief option.​

• A small pool of undisbursed RRF funds (around $180 million) has remained, and industry groups have been pressuring SBA and Congress to release it to previously approved but unfunded applicants rather than reopening a new round.​

• As of 2025–2026, there is no active federal “RRF 2.0” or new national grant program that restaurants can newly apply to that mirrors the old RRF structure.​

What Grants Exist Now

• Current “restaurant relief grants” are mostly offered at the state, city, or private level (economic development agencies, tourism boards, corporate-funded programs), not as a single nationwide SBA grant like RRF.​

• Many 2025–2026 grant programs focus on:

  • Small, independently owned restaurants

  • Workforce retention, outdoor dining, or equipment upgrades

  • Technology, energy efficiency, or community development goals​

SBA Options Restaurants Still Use

Even though the RRF is closed, SBA financing remains important:

• SBA 7(a) and 504 loans are used for acquisitions, build‑outs, and working capital when grants are not available, and they remain the primary federal tools for restaurant growth in 2025–2026.​

• SBA microloans (up to about $50,000) have become a practical option for smaller restaurants looking for affordable, flexible funding to stabilize or expand.​

How You Can Reframe This Article for 2026 (Draft for eDataPay)

Below is a condensed, 2026‑accurate rewrite you can adapt for eDataPay Media / blog. You can drop this into a page and then layer in your SEO keywords around “restaurant grants 2026,” “restaurant payment processing,” and your brand.

Restaurant Grants & Funding in 2026: What Owners Need to Know

The federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) that once provided $28.6 billion in tax‑free grants to restaurants is now closed and not accepting new applications. Today, restaurant owners must combine state and local grants with SBA loans and private relief programs to fill the funding gap.​

1. Is the SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund Still Open?

• No. The SBA officially lists the RRF as a closed COVID‑19 relief program, with no open application portal or new funding rounds.​

• A small balance of undisbursed RRF money (around $180 million) is expected to be reserved for previously approved applicants if it is released, not for new applicants.​

2. Where Are the Grants Now?

• Most current “restaurant relief” dollars come from:

  • State and city economic‑development grants

  • Tourism and downtown recovery funds

  • Corporate and foundation programs aimed at independent operators​

• These programs often support: outdoor seating, technology upgrades (POS, online ordering, payments), workforce training, and energy‑efficient equipment—areas where eDataPay and AmpliPay can directly help operators modernize payments and operations.​

3. SBA Tools Restaurants Still Rely On

• SBA 7(a) loans remain the main federal vehicle for acquisitions, expansions, and working capital when grants are unavailable.​

• SBA microloans (generally up to $50,000) provide smaller, flexible capital that many independent restaurants use for upgrades, marketing, or stabilization in 2025–2026.​

4. Action Steps for Restaurant Owners

• Check your state and city economic‑development sites regularly for hospitality or small business grant calls.​

• Talk with your CPA or banker about SBA 7(a), 504, or microloan options to complement any grants you secure.​

• Make sure your payment systems, online ordering, and POS are optimized; many modern grant and financing programs favor businesses that are investing in technology, compliance, and digital payments.​

If you want, the next step can be turning this into a fully SEO‑optimized eDataPay landing page (H1/H2 structure, schema, and calls to action for “restaurant payment processing + grants help” for a specific city like Miami or West Palm Beach).

The content in this article is for general information and education purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. eData Financial Group does not warrant or guarantee the accurateness, completeness, adequacy, or currency of the information in the article. You should seek the advice of a competent attorney or accountant licensed to practice in your jurisdiction for advice on your particular situation.