The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners has announced that restaurants negatively impacted by COVID-19 can now apply for up to $10,000 in grant funding through the MontcoStrong 2021 Restaurant Grant Program.

Restaurant and food service businesses are encouraged to apply by the Friday, January 8, 2021 deadline.

Montgomery County Commissioners have made up to $5 million available in county economic development funds to support restaurants and other food service businesses.

They recognize the huge importance of the restaurant and food service industry as a cornerstone of Montgomery County’s economic and workforce development as well as being central to the growth of entrepreneurship, job opportunities, and its communities.

“We know that our restaurants are really struggling to stay open right now without in-person dining and we miss gathering at these places to share special times with family and friends,” said Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr., Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.

“That is why we have made $5 million in additional funds available to help this industry. We encourage restaurants and other food service businesses in need of support to look into this latest round of funding and apply.”

Eligible applicants must be a for-profit restaurant, food truck, deli, bakery, brewery, distillery, vineyard, caterer, or other food services for-profit entity with a physical location in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania that has been in operation since at least January 1, 2020, and has experienced disruption due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Please read the full release here for meeting the additional following criteria.

Eligible grant expenses include rent or mortgage payments for a business location, purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), payments for utilities for a business location, and payroll for non-owner employees and or their family members between the dates of January 1 and March 5, 2021.

To apply, eligible businesses and organizations are required to complete an online application and they must be accepted by noon on Friday, January 8, 2021. Language Line assistance in Korean, Spanish, Hindi, and Chinese can be provided by following these instructions.

Before applying, please read the Program Guidelines and Program FAQ thoroughly.

“Without additional support from the federal government and the state, we wanted to step up as a county, and through the leadership of our Commissioners, we can now offer additional support to restaurants who need it,” said David Zellers, Director of Montgomery County’s Commerce Department.

“The next few months after the holidays are typically slower in the restaurant sector, and we know this year it’s going to be even tougher, which is why we are making these grant funds available now.”

The Redevelopment Authority of Montgomery County will disburse funds to grant awardees upon the return of signed grant agreements. The goal is to have award decisions approved in mid to late January so that fund disbursement can begin soon thereafter.

This program is a jointly administered initiative of the Montgomery County Commerce Department and the Redevelopment Authority of Montgomery County.

Questions regarding the program should be submitted through the Commerce Department’s Assistance Request Form.