On March 25, 2020, the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) launched the SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund and has since granted over $1.6 million to more than 500 independently owned and operated restaurants and bars impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
On August 4, 2020, as part of the Miami-Dade County Business Grant Program, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez provided the Fund with a $5 million grant, to be earmarked and distributed to eligible hospitality employees who work in Miami-Dade County. As a result, this next round of funding will specifically support independently owned and operated restaurants, hotel restaurants, bars, and (non-home-based) caterers in Miami-Dade County whose businesses have been significantly impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grant Eligibility & Details
Grants will be provided to eligible establishments that have had to temporarily cease operations, lay off employees, or whose businesses have been severely diminished due to locally mandated closure orders. Financial support will enable those owners to provide continuity of compensation to employees who have been furloughed, laid off, or whose incomes have been significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In partnership with Miami-Dade County and United Way of Miami-Dade, the SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund will distribute $500 per laid off or furloughed employee, with a maximum of $15,000 per individual establishment and a maximum of two (2) establishments per restaurant/hospitality group.
Establishments that were previously awarded grants from the SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund during its initial round of funding (March 25 to July 31, 2020) are encouraged to apply for an additional grant, assuming they meet the current eligibility requirements set forth by Miami-Dade County.
For more information or to apply please visit https://corporate.sobewff.org/mdc-relief/
