The Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund, sponsored by Hello Alice and administered by Circular Board, Inc., is designed to provide financial assistance to restaurants that have been adversely affected by natural disasters, severe weather events, or significant infrastructure failures. This program offers grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to eligible businesses that meet specific criteria. The fund aims to support the recovery of restaurants that have experienced revenue loss due to disasters declared by state, tribal, or federal authorities within the past year.

The primary purpose of the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund is to assist restaurants, gastropubs, and bakeries that have suffered financial setbacks due to unforeseen circumstances. The program seeks to alleviate some of the economic burdens faced by these establishments, enabling them to recover and continue serving their communities. By providing targeted financial support, the fund aims to help these businesses regain stability and thrive in the aftermath of disasters.

To qualify for funding, applicants must be for-profit businesses located and registered in one of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. Eligible businesses must have a physical location and must be classified as a restaurant, gastropub, or bakery. Additionally, they must have experienced a revenue loss directly related to a disaster that occurred within the last twelve months. Other criteria include having three or fewer locations, employing fifty or fewer staff members per location, being operational for at least six months, generating revenues of $3 million or less per location in 2023, and being independently owned.

The program is open to individuals who are the leading executives of their businesses, such as founders or CEOs, and who are at least eighteen years old (nineteen in Alabama and Nebraska). Applicants must also be legal residents of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. It is important to note that any application that contains inappropriate content or is submitted in bad faith may be disqualified. The authorized account holder of the email address used for registration will be considered the official representative of the business.

Submission requirements for the grant include completing an application that provides detailed information about the business and its eligibility. Applicants may be required to submit additional documentation to verify their eligibility. The evaluation of applications will be based on the criteria set forth by the program, including the extent of revenue loss and the overall impact of the disaster on the business.

The application period for the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund is open until December 2, 2024. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the Hello Alice website for more information and to access the application. It is essential for potential applicants to be aware of the timeline and ensure that they submit their applications before the deadline to be considered for funding.