MEMPHIS, Tenn. — More funds from the CARES Act are allowing Welcome to Memphis to offer increased financial assistance to Memphis area hospitality professionals affected by the pandemic economy, a release stated.
Welcome to Memphis has already issued more than 1,200 one-time grants of $300 during the past six months. Now, they are able to offer additional grants to about 500 qualified hospitality professionals.
Applications are currently available online at the Welcome to Memphis website.
Eligible applicants are:
Hourly employees in the Memphis area hospitality industry who have been terminated or furloughed due to COVID-19, including employees of hotels, restaurants and bars, tourist attractions, convention services, and tour operations.
Hospitality professionals who are currently employed but have been furloughed or laid off due to COVID-19 at some point in 2020 are also eligible.
You will need to provide your name, contact information, employer and employer contact information, proof of work such as a pay stub or W2, a government-issued ID and proof of termination.
The one-time grants of $300 each will be awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis, the release said.
“We are grateful to the City of Memphis and to the generosity of many individual donors for making an increased number of grants possible,” said Mary Schmitz, Executive Director at Welcome to Memphis.
“We are still taking new applications. We recognize the ongoing economic challenges faced especially by our local hospitality community, and it is our hope that the Welcome to Memphis COVID-19 Fund will make a positive difference for hourly hospitality employees as they wait for their jobs to return to normal.”
Employees outside the hospitality profession seeking financial relief are encouraged to call 211.