Nassau Country Restaurant Recovery Grant Information

Program Summary

In another effort to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nassau County Executive
Laura Curran announced the County’s new Restaurant Recovery Grant Program (RRGP) on November 18,
2020. The program is intended to support full-service restaurants – the industry hit hardest by the
pandemic – during the winter months when outdoor dining is limited and as restaurants adjust to New
York State’s COVID-19 safety restrictions and new mandates.
Nassau County is using funding made available through the federal Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) program to provide approximately 300 grants to restaurants. Grant funds are valued at either
$5,000 or $10,000 depending on the number of employees.
Restaurants can apply to the RRGP starting Monday, November 30th. The link for the online application
will be posted to this webpage and will remain open for at least two weeks. The online grant portal will
close temporarily should the number of applications exceed funding availability. If grant funding remains
available due to the exclusion of ineligible applications, the online grant portal will be re-opened following
an announcement by the County. Any program announcements and/or updates will be posted to this
webpage.
Grants will be awarded to eligible restaurants beginning in January 2021. If a restaurant establishment
uses the grant funds to retain at least one (1) low/moderate-income job at full-time status, the funds do
not need to be repaid.
Check back to this webpage for any RRGP updates!

Program Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Businesses
• Full-Service Restaurants (NAICS code 722511), or establishments engaged in providing food
services and meals prepared on-premises to patrons who traditionally order and are served while
seated (i.e., waiter/waitress service), including on-premises food and drinking establishments
licensed through the State Liquor Authority (SLA)
• Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) are encouraged to apply

General Eligibility
• Located in Nassau County
• In operation on or before March 1, 2019
• Must have 50 or fewer Full-Time equivalent (FTE) employees
o Maximum $5,000 grant – 0 (sole proprietor)-10 employees
o Maximum $10,000 grant – 11-50 employees
• Must agree to create or retain at least one low/moderate-income job at full-time status
• Must certify and demonstrate that they have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19

Eligible Expenses
• Grant funds to cover working capital and operating expenses including:
o payroll, rent, utilities, purchase of PPE and sanitation supplies; lease or purchase of
equipment like kitchen equipment or delivery vehicles; or COVID-19 related business
improvements like patio heaters or contactless technology.

Ineligible Businesses
• Non-profit organizations
• Businesses with greater than 50 employees
• Businesses in violation of New York State Executive orders relating to the COVID-19 pandemic or
other State, County or local ordinances
o e.g., EO 202.74 effective Friday, November 13 at 10 PM
▪ SLA FAQ: https://sla.ny.gov/Guidance-COVID-Related-Closing-Times