(20 ILCS 605/605-1100)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2024)

Sec. 605-1100. Restaurant Employment and Stabilization Grant Program.

(a) As used in this Section, "eligible entity" means a restaurant or tavern that meets all of the following criteria:

(1) the restaurant or tavern is located in the State of Illinois;

(2) the restaurant or tavern is eligible to receive federal grant funds under Section 5003 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ("ARPA");

(3) the restaurant or tavern employs 50 or fewer employees;

(4) the restaurant or tavern was in operation as of March 12, 2020 and remains in operation; and

(5) the restaurant or tavern has not received financial assistance pursuant to the federal Restaurant Revitalization Grant Program; the State Back to Business Grant Program or the Business Interruption Grant program; or any other local or State program providing more than $10,000 in grants or forgiven loans since April 1, 2020.

(b) The Department may receive State funds and, directly or indirectly, federal funds under the authority of legislation passed in response to the Coronavirus epidemic including, but not limited to, ARPA; such funds shall be used in accordance with the ARPA legislation and other State and federal law. Upon receipt or availability of such State or federal funds, and subject to appropriations for their use, the Department shall establish the Restaurant Employment and Stabilization Grant Program for the purpose of providing direct economic relief to eligible entities that continue to be impacted by COVID-19 economic pandemic conditions. The Department shall award a one-time grant in an amount of up to $50,000 to each eligible entity. Grant award amounts will be determined, based on the eligible entity's reported losses during a timeframe determined by the Department.

(c) Eligible entities receiving grant funds under this Section shall use those grant funds only for the following purposes, to the extent permitted by Section 9901 of ARPA and related federal guidance, including but not limited to the following: payroll costs; paid sick leave; employer contributions to employee health care costs; payments of principal or interest on any mortgage obligation; rent payments, including rent under a lease agreement; utilities; maintenance; and operational expenses.

(d) Within one year after receiving grant funds under this Section, the eligible entity shall submit a written attestation to the Department acknowledging compliance with subsection (c). The Department shall establish additional reporting requirements based on reporting guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Treasury for Section 9901 of ARPA by administrative rule.

(e) If an eligible entity that receives a grant under this Section fails to use all of those grant funds within one year after receiving the grant, the eligible entity shall return to the Department any grant funds that the eligible entity received under this Section and did not use for allowable expenses under subsection (c).

(f) The Department may establish by rule administrative procedures for the grant program, including any application procedures, grant agreements, certifications, payment methodologies, and other accountability measures that may be imposed upon participants in the program. The emergency rulemaking process may be used to promulgate the initial rules of the program following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(g) The Department has the power to issue grants and enter into agreements with eligible entities to carry out the purposes of this program.

(h) This Section is repealed on December 31, 2024.

(Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)