Governor Gina Raimondo has announced a Coronavirus Relief Fund grant program for Rhode Island businesses affected by Executive Order 20-95, which requires an early shutdown for certain bars and restaurants. Under the Executive Order, for at least two weeks, effective on Sunday, November 8, 2020, all restaurants and bars must end service at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. To help provide relief to businesses affected by this order, the RI Division of Taxation will be providing grants using federal Coronavirus Relief Funds.

In order to be eligible to receive a grant, an applicant must:

1. Be a bar or restaurant owner impacted by the early shutdowns mandated by Executive Order 20-95;
2. Be registered with the RI Division of Taxation;
3. Maintain an active meals and beverage account with the RI Division of Taxation;
4. Maintain an active liquor license to consume alcoholic beverages onsite;
5. Have filed and paid sales tax and meals and beverage tax for the months of July, August and September 2020; and
6. Have proof of impact from the early shutdown order to demonstrate monetary loss to the business.

The application can be found on the RI Division of Taxation’s website (http://www.tax.ri.gov/RICares). Applicants will be required to provide their sales tax permit number and liquor license number and will also be required to submit sales tax and meals and beverage tax filing information for the months of July, August and September 2020.

Grants amounts will be equal to seventy-five percent (75%) of the average sales tax and meals and beverage tax paid by the applicant for the months of July, August, and September of 2020, with a grant minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $10,000.

Applications are currently being accepted and the deadline to apply for these grants is December 15, 2020. Grant checks should be mailed to applicants within two weeks from the date the application is received.