Ahead of the Curve: The Maryland Restaurant Relief Program

November 25, 2020

Hurry – The application deadline is Friday, December 4 at 5 p.m.

By Trevor M. Allen, Esq.
Attorney at Law at Selzer Gurvitch Rabin Wertheimer & Polott, P.C.

Maryland’s restaurant industry has been severely impacted by COVID-19. In response, Governor Larry Hogan set aside $50 million for a Direct Relief for Restaurants program. The program is part of a broader program, which you can learn more about in our Ahead of the Curve Alert: The Maryland Strong Economic Recovery Initiative.

As part of this program, the State will distribute the $50 million across each of the counties and Baltimore City based on the qualifying restaurants located in each jurisdiction. In particular, approximately $8 million was sent to Montgomery County.

On November 17, 2020, the Montgomery County Council authorized the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) to administer and award grants of up to $10,000 to eligible restaurants and other entities including food trucks, caterers, wineries, and breweries.

Below is a summary of the application process and the required documentation.

 

How to Apply:

  • The application can only be filed online. To apply, click here.
  • Applications will be accepted from November 20 through 5pm on December 4, 2020.
  • Only one submission per business is allowed.
  • For questions regarding this application, please email RestaurantRelief@thinkmoco.com.

Eligibility Requirements:

An entity will be eligible to receive assistance from the Restaurant Relief Grant Program if it meets the following requirements:

  • Has its principal place of business in Montgomery County;
    • Its only location is in the County or its County-based locations account for more than 50 percent of its total number of employees or more than 50 percent of its gross sales.
    • Employs 100 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees in total as of September 1, 2020.
  • Is in good standing with the State of Maryland;
  • Requires financial assistance to pay for the expenditures permitted by the State through its appropriation to Montgomery County;
  • Is currently open and operating, and has been since September 1; and
  • Has not used, and will not use, funds received from this grant program for the same purpose as funds received through other Montgomery County grant programs.

Required Documentation:

  • Corporations, LLCs, Non-Profits, and Partnerships must submit the following:
    • Itemized invoice to MCEDC for the total amount requested
    • W9 form
    • Current Food Service Facility License
    • Voided business check
  • Sole proprietors and other entity types must submit the above as well as Schedule C from their most recently filed tax return

 

Let Selzer Gurvitch help.

If you have questions regarding this alert, please contact author Trevor Allen. Of course, you may also contact the Selzer Gurvitch attorney with whom you usually work.

Trevor M. Allen, Esq.
tallen@sgrwlaw.com
(301) 634-3174

Disclaimer: The information contained in this material is not intended to be considered legal advice and should not be acted upon as such. Because of the generality of this material, the information provided may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without legal advice based on the specific factual circumstances.

< See All News