Restaurant owners may apply for a $1,000 grant per Orange County restaurant location for taking steps to create a COVID-safe environment for their customers and employees. The grant will reimburse restaurants for purchases of personal protective equipment including face masks, cleaning products, employee training and costs for physical distancing of tables and chairs, etc.
The SafeDineOC campaign is sponsored by the County and managed by Orange County Business Council (OCBC), which will accept and approve qualified applications as well as disburse $1,000 grants to restaurant owners. Through its database, the OC Health Care Agency will promote the campaign.
Restaurants that apply and are approved will be added to a list of COVID-safe eateries organized by city that will be available to consumers on the SafeDineOC
website. This online resource will let the public see which restaurants offer a safe dining experience in Orange County.
Eateries applying for the program must meet all qualifications verified by OCBC. Funds will be distributed within 45 days. All restaurants must submit receipts for CARES ACT-qualified purchases for final reimbursement grant payment on purchases made March 1 to September 30, 2020.
