Tennessee Action for Hospitality is a state-wide coalition of independent restaurant owners, hourly workers, and chefs that recently formed as a response to the crisis the hospitality industry is facing due to COVID-19.
In an effort to support hospitality professionals who plan to continue their career in Tennessee when the crisis is over, Tennessee Action for Hospitality has partnered with The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) to create A Fund for Us, a fund that will provide swift relief to those who have lost their job, or seen a dramatic decrease in hours worked.
Through A Fund for Us, grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to individuals who meet the criteria, as resources are available. CFMT will administer the fund on behalf of the coalition, following a two-part application process:
Qualifying small businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Based in Tennessee, with an operating business license as of March 1, 2020.
- Offers an experience centered upon enjoyment of high quality food and/or beverage, with an emphasis on restaurant service, employing both full-time front- and back-of-house workers.
- The owner(s) of the establishment work full-time for their restaurant(s), bar(s), caterer(s), or restaurant group.
- The owner(s) of the establishment were instrumental in the creation of their business, and are free from outside control by way of majority ownership--not publicly traded, a franchise, or chain.
Individual employees can then apply for grants, based on the following criteria:
- Currently or most previously employed by a pre-qualified independent restaurant, caterer, or bar (as defined before).
- Someone who plans on re-entering the hospitality industry at the end of this public health crisis.
- Someone for whom hospitality pay is at least 80% of their income.
- Someone who had worked for their most recent employer a minimum of six months.
- No limit on household members.
- Individuals who make under $85,000 annually
Restaurants can register by visiting cfmt.formstack.com. Consumer donations will open online next week. Individual applications will open online starting April 13. For more information visit tnactionforhospitality.com.