The FRLA Disaster Relief Fund is an initiative of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation.  This initiative strives to provide economic relief to Florida’s independent restaurants, independent lodging establishments[1] and employees of these organizations who are financially needy or distressed from the  impact of Hurricane Ian.  The FRLA Disaster Relief Fund provides immediate financial support in the form of grants valued at up to $20,000 per independently owned restaurant or lodging location. At a minimum, 50% of the support provided must be earmarked to support employees in financial need.

For the absence of doubt, an independent restaurant or lodging establishment is defined as a restaurant or lodging establishment [1] owned by a corporation, limited liability partnership, general partnerships, or sole proprietorship. Franchisees of national chains are eligible, but only if the owner owns no more than three (3) franchised locations. Independent restaurant and lodging chains do qualify for this grant. Only one application is required for all multi-unit operators. 

 
Grant Recipient Reporting Requirements
Donations to the FRLA Disaster Relief Fund initiative of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) are tax-exempt to the extent the law and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines allow. In order to ensure that recipients do not incur a negative tax impact from these grants, recipients must use disaster relief funds for eligible expenses only.
 
Eligibility:
  • Independent restaurant or lodging establishment (as defined below);
  • Currently operating or actively planning to re-open;
  • Business must have been open and operating at least 6 months;
  • Physically or economically impacted by Hurricane Ian and located in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Flagler, Hardee, Volusia, or Sarasota counties; and
  • All necessary forms and acknowledgments submitted.

Grant funding can be used to:

For owners or employees in financial need, disaster relief funds may be used for the following purposes:

Assistance with rent, mortgage payments, or car loan payments;
Assistance with school tuition and higher education costs to permit a child to attend school;
Reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for the repair or rehabilitation of a personal residence (rented or owned); or
Reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for the repair or replacement of the contents of a personal residence due to Hurricane Ian.

The IRS does NOT allow disaster relief payments for the following purposes:
·      Payments for expenses otherwise paid for by insurance or other reimbursements; or
·      Income replacement payments, such as payments of lost wages, lost business income, or unemployment compensation.
For business property, grant dollars may be used for the following purposes:
·      To combat community deterioration (rehabilitating property in a storm devasted area); and
·      To lessen the burdens of government (replacing infrastructure owned by the government, such as a sidewalk or road).                                                        
NOTE:  A minimum of 50% of the total relief support received must be earmarked to support employees in financial need.

[1] Defined as a lodging establishment licensed as a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast as defined in 509.242. Florida Statutes.

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* 1. FRLA DISASTER RELIEF FUND APPLICATION

To support independent restaurants, lodging establishments[1], and employees of these organizations who are financially needy or distressed from the impact of Hurricane Ian, the Florida Disaster Relief Fund will distribute grants of up to $20,000 per owner to immediately support their financial needs. At a minimum,  50% of the support provided must be distributed to employees who are in financial need. As an independent restaurateur or lodging establishment owner, please complete this application to the best of your ability. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as we continue to raise funds. Because we want to put money in your hands as quickly as possible, we are asking you to provide your bank information so that, once approved and funded, we can transmit your grant to you via ACH.

Eligible restaurants and lodging establishments must be open and operating or actively planning to re-open. Permanently closed restaurants and lodging establishments are NOT eligible for this grant. Only independent restaurants and lodging establishments within the state of Florida are eligible.

After submitting your application, it will be reviewed by the internal committee and a decision letter will follow. If approved, you will receive the grant as soon as funds are available. We will remain in contact with you throughout the process.

For the absence of doubt, an independent restaurant or lodging establishment is defined as a restaurant or lodging establishment[1] owned by a corporation, limited liability partnership, general partnerships, or sole proprietorship. Franchisees of national chains are eligible, but only if the owner owns no more than three (3) franchised locations. Independent restaurant and lodging chains do qualify for this grant. Only one application is required for all multi-unit operators.

If you have any questions, or to check status of your application, email relief@FRLA.org.

[1] Defined as a lodging establishment licensed as a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast as defined in 509.242. Florida Statutes.

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* 2. CORPORATE INFORMATION

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* 3. DO YOU OWN ANY OTHER LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS GRANT?

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* 4. WHAT TYPE OF ESTABLISHMENT IS YOUR COMPANY?

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* 5. ARE YOU A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA RESTAURANT & LODGING ASSOCIATION?

NOTE: THIS DOES NOT HAVE ANY BEARING ON GRANT ELIGIBILITY. THIS IS FOR INFORMATION USE ONLY.

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* 6. NUMBER OF FULL-TIME STAFF

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* 7. NUMBER OF PART-TIME STAFF

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* 8. DESCRIBE IN DETAIL HOW YOUR BUSINESS HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IAN. IS YOUR BUSINESS LOCATED IN AN AREA OF SEVERE DEVASTATION? PROVIDE PHOTOS, IF AVAILABLE.

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* 9. UPLOAD A PICTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS HERE.

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* 10. UPLOAD ADDITIONAL PICTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS

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* 11. UPLOAD ADDITIONAL PICTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS

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* 12. IF AWARDED, DESCRIBE HOW YOU WOULD UTILIZE THE FUNDS CONSISTENT WITH THE AUTHORIZED USES.  ALSO, DISCLOSE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE AWARD WOULD GO TO ASSISTING EMPLOYEES, OWNERS OR REHABILITATING PROPERTY.  NOTE: A MINIMUM OF 50% OF TOTAL GRANT MUST ASSIST EMPLOYEES IN FINANCIAL NEED.

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* 13. IS YOUR BUSINESS STILL OPEN/IN OPERATION?

NOTE: TO BE ELIGIBLE, BUSINESSES MUST BE OPERATING OR ACTIVELY PLANNING TO RE-OPEN.

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* 14. TO RECEIVE FUNDS VIA ACH, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR CORPORATE BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION AND ATTACH A VOIDED CHECK.

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* 15. ATTACH VOIDED CHECK HERE

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* 16. SHARE YOUR NARRATIVE.  (THIS IS AN OPTIONAL FIELD.  HOWEVER, AS THE FRLA CONTINUES TO FIGHT TO SUPPORT FLORIDA’S RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS, WE NEED YOUR STORIES.  BY SUBMITTING YOUR NARRATIVE HERE, YOU AGREE TO ALLOW THE FRLA TO SHARE THIS STORY.  YOU MAY INDICATE IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR BUSINESS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS IF WE USE YOUR NARRATIVE.)

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* 17. PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR PAYROLL REGISTER FOR AUGUST 31st 2022 OR PRIOR AND THE MOST RECENT 2023 PAYROLL REGISTER LISTING STAFF.  SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER MAY BE REDACTED. ALSO INCLUDE CORRESPONDING BANK STATEMENT TO SUPPORT PAYROLL REGISTER.

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* 18. PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF  CORRESPONDING BANK STATEMENT TO SUPPORT PAYROLL REGISTER.

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EMPLOYEE RELIEF GUIDELINES

  • Not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000 per employee
  • Each eligible employee must complete and sign the employee acknowledgement letter

CLICK HERE to access the Required Employee Information page. Each eligible employee must complete the document at this page and return to you with a voided check and other supporting documents that are required. Examples of the supporting documents are on the Required Employee Information Form at the link.

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* 19. PLEASE PROVIDE EMPLOYEE NAME AND AMOUNT REQUESTED FOR EMPLOYEE #1

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* 20. PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF EMPLOYEE #1 VOIDED CHECK HERE:

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* 21. PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF EMPLOYEE #1 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS HERE (Refer to page 3 of the Required Employee Information Form found on this page):

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* 22. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF DECLARATION STATEMENT REGARDING USAGE OF FUNDS

I, the above-named representative of the above-named restaurant or lodging establishment, do hereby agree to the following restricted usage of funds provided by the FRLA Disaster Relief Fund to benefit the business and its employees.  Funds will only be used to accomplish two concurrent goals:

1. To assist owners and employees in financial need and;

2. To support property improvements to combat community deterioration or lessen the burdens of government. 

I further acknowledge that these funds are to provide direct relief to independent restaurants and lodging establishments to assist in supporting their employees and surviving the crisis.

I also authorize the FRLA to include my establishment in promotion of the fund.

Recipients should prepare to provide proof of how the funds were distributed, should the IRS request it.  Guidance for how the funds should be distributed per tax code will be included in the award letter.

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* 23. By typing your name below you attest all above to be true and accurate.

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