Department of Commerce Hospitality Industry Relief

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY RELIEF EMERGENCY FUND

The Kelly Administration has established the Hospitality Industry Relief Emergency (HIRE) Fund to provide bridge loans for Kansas’ hospitality sector during the COVID-19 crisis.

Governor Kelly is committed to providing support to our state’s small businesses, and she understands this pandemic is an especially serious challenge for the hospitality industry. In order to sustain operations for this sector, the administration has allocated $5 million for a round of bridge loans to hospitality businesses.

Eligible businesses in Kansas will be able to apply for a one-time loan of up to $20 thousand at 0% interest for a period of 36 months. There will be no principal or interest payments for the first four months.

EXAMPLES OF HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES INCLUDE:

• Restaurants
• Bars
• Lodging facilities
• Conference centers
• Event centers

Other hospitality businesses will be considered and may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

THESE FUNDS CAN BE USED AS WORKING CAPITAL FOR BUSINESS EXPENSES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Commercial loan payments
• Commercial lease payments
• Utility bills
• Payroll
• Accounts payable
• Inventory

Funds will be strategically distributed across the state to maximize relief for all hospitality sectors across Kansas and focus on the areas most affected.

DISTRIBUTION WILL BE ALLOCATED AS FOLLOWS:

• $2 million to the KC Metro area (incl. Johnson, Wyandotte, Shawnee and Douglas counties)
• $1 million to Sedgwick County
• $2 million to the remainder of the state

IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE, BUSINESSES MUST:

• Be an existing for-profit business located in Kansas
• Maintain a staff of fewer than 100 employees
• Have no outstanding state tax obligations
• Be willing to submit a personal guarantee of repayment from the owners of the business

Decisions on loan applications will be made within 72 hours of application receipt, 7 days a week. Funds will be transferred within 48 hours of approval.

Click the link to apply online https://www.kansascommerce.gov/covid-19-response/hospitality-industry-relief-emergency-hire-fund/hirefund-application/

Click the link below to visit the website

https://www.kansascommerce.gov/covid-19-response/hospitality-industry-relief-emergency-hire-fund/?fbclid=IwAR0dCCx4uPPfKUhZTCPVEAulsz7gSrQo6CeLzy6wYzrJQTuVqlAYG2dAR48