b'COVID RELIEFDINNER CRUISES Are Eligible for FEDERAL RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUNDST he U.S. Small Business Administration33% of gross receipts in on-site sales to theMore information is available online at: (SBA)isawardingfundingthroughpublic.Thoseentitieswithoutadditionalhttps://www.sba.gov/funding-theRestaurantRevitalizationdocumentationrequirements,suchasprograms/loans/covid-19-relief-options/Programtorestaurants,bars,andotherrestaurants and bars, are presumed to have on- restaurant-revitalization-fund?utm_similar places of business that serve food orsite sales to the public comprising at least 33%medium=email&utm_source=govdeliverydrink, including dinner cruise operators. Theof gross receipts in 2019. purpose of this funding is to provide support to eligible entities that suff ered revenue losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) became public law (P.L. 117-2).Section 5003 established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), and appropriatedThe Trusted Source for $28.6 billion for SBA to award funds. (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants andQuality Wiper Systemsothereligiblebusinesseskeeptheirdoors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business andnomorethan$5millionperphysical location.Theseappropriationsremain available until expended. Unfortunately,therearenotenoughRRF dollars to fund all the applications that have been received. PVA is lobbying for Congress to approve more funding for the program.Eligibleentitiesarebusinessesthatarenot permanentlyclosedandincludebusinesses where the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink. PVA President Colleen Stephens sent a letter to the head of the SBA, who has determined that U.S. dinner cruise vessels qualify to apply for the RRF. This determination was made whenSBAAdministratorIsabellaCasillas Guzmanconfi rmedthatpassengervessel dinner cruises meet statuary requirements. To satisfy the statutory requirement for place of business in which the public or patrons assemblefortheprimarypurposeofbeing served food or drink, an eligible entity must have at least 33% in 2019 on-site sales to theTHRUSTERSLIGHTINGSEATINGDOORSTRIM CONTROLWIPERSCONTROLSpublic. The original business model of eligible entities that opened in 2020 or that have not yet opened should have contemplated at least www.imtra.com 508.995.7000MAY 2021 33 COVID RELIEF'