GrowBiz aims to keep you up to date on opportunities and resources for South Florida small businesses navigating the economic impact of COVID-19. Here are a couple for the food/beverage and hospitality industry.
FREE 6-WEEK INCUBATOR OFFERS TRAINING FOR FOOD BUSINESS SUCCESS
Do you operate a food-based business in South Florida full time? Do you have a great food/beverage concept that you want to further develop? Do you need help with marketing and growth? Who doesn’t in these unprecedented times of COVID-19?
Small businesses in the food and beverage industry, including restaurants, can apply for a free six-week incubator. Junction Halls Hospitality Management, in partnership with the Knight Foundation, University of Miami School of Architecture, Medium Four Idea and Design, Sips Eatery and Miami Bayside Foundation, is bringing the Food & Beverage Success Incubator to South Florida.
Beginning Sept. 22, 2020, applicants admitted to the incubator will be part of a 15-person virtual cohort with seasoned restaurant owners, consultants and marketing experts. The program delivers one-to-one mentorship, individual training for food business success, a $500 marketing stipend and access to an ongoing online portal of program materials and templates.
Members of the cohort will make their virtual experience a reality in pop-up engagements at Sips Eatery in Overtown. Exclusive to and with no cost for the participants, the pop-ups will run for two months giving access to a brick and mortar store front and access to a full commercial kitchen.
Potential applicants should have a food-based business of no less than one year, be able to commit to twice-per-week online training, be currently selling their food products on a consistent basis with exceptions of restrictions due to Covid-19, and work in their business full-time or desire to do so. Apply today at http://junctionhalls.com/incubator/
MIAMI-DADE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY GRANTS UP TO $25,000 AVAILABLE
The application process is underway for the Hospitality Industry Grant program that was recently approved by the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners, which has designated $30 million of the Business Grant Program specifically for the Hospitality Industry. Partners in this program include Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality Industry Relief Fund and SOBEWFF, among others.
The goal of the program is to provide financial assistance to local independently owned and operated restaurants and non-home-based caterers impacted by COVID-19. Priority will be given to businesses that have not been approved or received funds from any institution under the Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP) or other federal or state assisted business loan program and have a single establishment.
The $30 million HIG program will be calculated based on individual percentages of eligible costs incurred, with a maximum award of $25,000 per establishment. The program will award grants to a maximum of two (2) establishments per restaurant/hospitality group. Priority will be given to applicants that have a single establishment. If an applicant has two or more establishments and requests assistance for both, then a single application must be submitted.
Eligibility:
- Restaurants or non-home-based caterers located in Miami-Dade County with a maximum of 50 employees and annual revenue does not exceed $10M
- Restaurants or non-home-based caterers located in Miami-Dade County with a maximum of 75 employees and annual revenue does not exceed $15M
For the specific rules of the application process and to apply, click here.
Share resources and opportunities for small businesses by emailing me at ndahlbergbiz@gmail.com
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