COVID-19 Relief Bill Signed Today

Includes Critical Help for Tasting Rooms

Today, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 paving the way for wineries to receive direct support to help offset losses suffered due to the pandemic. This expansive legislation encompasses $1.9 trillion in funding aimed at speeding up economic recovery, including key provisions called for by Wine Institute. Central components of the legislation include:

• $28.6 billion in funding for the RESTAURANTS Act
• $350 billion to support state and local governments
• $129 billion for elementary and secondary education
• $53.5 billion to support COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and tracing
• $7.5 billion in additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program
• An extension of the Employee Retention Tax Credit through December 2021
• An extension of paid leave and sick leave benefits for employees and an extension of the tax credit for employers

A number of the provisions in the legislation are relevant for wineries, including the RESTAURANTS Act which will provide direct support to wineries who suffered losses in 2020 due the closure of tasting rooms. The program will provide direct grants up to a maximum of five million dollars to cover lost tasting room sales in 2020 when compared with 2019 sales. When first introduced, the RESTAURANTS Act did not include tasting rooms. Wine Institute successfully advocated for wineries to be eligible to participate in this critical support for the hospitality industry. The Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration will work in the coming weeks to establish the program and release guidance on how and when wineries can apply for grants.

For more information, find a comprehensive summary of the provisions included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 as well as additional details about the RESTAURANTS Act.