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Release Date: December 15,2020

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro Encourage Liquor Permit Holders to Apply for the Ohio Bar and Restaurant Assistance Fund

Permit holders are encouraged to apply by December 18

Akron, Ohio, December 15, 2020 — Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and County Executive Ilene Shapiro are teaming up to let local bars and restaurants know about grant funds available through the State of Ohio.

The Bar and Restaurant Assistance Fund is designed to assist Ohio’s on-premise liquor permit holders. Governor Mike DeWine has designated $38.7 million of funding received by the State of Ohio from the federal CARES Act to provide $2,500 assistance payments to on-premise liquor permit holders to help them through the financial difficulties experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. These permit holders have not been able to fully use their liquor permit and it’s had an impact on their business. The program, which began accepting applications November 2, 2020, will be administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency. The City, County, and Greater Akron Chamber are in the process of reaching out to businesses that qualify and have not yet applied but would encourage businesses to check their eligibility at https://businesshelp.ohio.gov/.

“The City and County have determined that roughly 300 liquor license holders in Summit County have not yet applied for this $2,500 grant from the state,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. “About half of these businesses are located in Akron. We're encouraging any of those businesses who have not yet applied to do so in order to help out their business with a much-needed and deserved grant. The application is simple, and the funds do not need to be repaid. 

“We hope these grants can help offset some of the burden that this pandemic has placed on our local businesses,” said County Executive Ilene Shapiro. “The grant is available to bars, restaurants, breweries, distilleries, wineries, casinos, private clubs and other permit holders. In this time of economic downturn, we encourage business owners to pursue every available source of assistance.”

Visit BusinessHelp.Ohio.Gov to access the online application. Permit holders may apply for the liquor assistance funding as well as the Small Business Relief Grant through the online application.

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services will be sending checks to permit holders as soon as applications are processed. Funds cannot be distributed after Dec. 31, 2020. Businesses are therefore encouraged to apply by Dec. 18, 2020 to ensure the funding request can be processed before the application closes on Dec. 30, 2020. To see a list of Frequently Asked Questions please click here.