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Connecticut announces grants to support hospitality businesses hit by COVID-19 pandemic

Businesses in this sector can anticipate receiving checks from the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) that range in amounts from $7,500 to $49,999.

HARTFORD, Conn. — More than 1,700 businesses in Connecticut’s hospitality sector will receive more than $30 million in grants in a renewed effort to help them recover some of the financial losses stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Connecticut Department of Revenue (DRS) will deliver checks ranging from $7,500 to $49,999 to eligible restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, breweries, wineries, travel and transportation services and other businesses.

“So many locally-owned small businesses in the hospitality sector are continuing to recover from the pandemic, and any bit of relief that can be provided will help support them and their workers,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “These funds are being sent directly to employers to accelerate their continued growth and can be used as they best determine to help mitigate any financial losses stemming from the pandemic. I thank the Biden administration and Connecticut’s Congressional delegation for delivering these funds to our state through the American Rescue Plan Act.”

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The grants, known as the Connecticut Hospitality Industry Support Program, are funded by the money the state received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

“These grants, funded by the American Rescue Plan, are a lifeline for Connecticut businesses struggling to recover from the devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic. Connecticut has some of the best restaurants, breweries, and hotels in the country, but our hospitality industry is still rebuilding from two years of debilitating losses,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “I’ve visited many of these businesses and heard firsthand of their struggles to keep their doors open. I am proud to have fought for the American Rescue Plan Act in Congress so that our state’s vibrant communities can rebuild to become even stronger.”

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To receive a grant, existing businesses must have met several criteria developed by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), including a decline of 15% or more in gross receipts when comparing calendar years 2019 to 2021. The amount of the grants will depend on the amount of loss and the overall level of gross receipts generated by an individual business.

New businesses would receive grants of $7,500 (or $15,000 if located in a distressed municipality) provided they meet certain eligibility criteria.

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According to officials, businesses do not need to apply for the grants. Instead, the DECD has analyzed data from the DRS to identify the businesses that experienced losses during the pandemic.

For more information regarding the program’s eligibility criteria, click here.

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