The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a difficult two years for the United States in general, and the food service industry has certainly felt a financial pinch as fewer people have been eating at restaurants.

In an effort to alleviate the financial impact, the American Rescue Plan Act, which President Joe Biden signed in March, created the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The fund provides grants to restaurants that have sustained financial losses during the pandemic.

According to data released in July by the Small Business Administration, the RRF has provided $28.6 billion in grants to over 100,000 restaurants, bars and other businesses serving on-site food and drink. Tazewell County’s share of that was just over $5 million, distributed among 28 recipients.

RRF money could be spent on operating expenses, payroll, mortgages, rent, debt services, supplies, food and beverage expenses, utilities, maintenance and construction of outdoor seating. Funds must be used by March 11, 2023.

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The county’s chief RRF beneficiaries were, not surprisingly, in the larger communities. Six Morton businesses received a total of $1,571,286.71, four Pekin businesses shared RRF grants totaling $1,364,488.50, and four Washington establishments divided $1,106,569.85 in grant money.

The single largest grant, for $1,010,057, went to Subway in Pekin. Seasons Gastropub in Morton was approved for a $920,578.42 FFA grant in May.

Here are the Tazewell County businesses that received RRF grants this year by community:

Pekin

Subway, 2209 Broadway St. — $1,010,057

Ming's of Pekin, 2129 Court St. — $232,342.18

Fast Dragon Buffet, 321 Court St. — $102,290.32

Buffalo Wild Wings, 3333 Court St. — $19,799

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Morton

Pizza Ranch, 903 W. Jackson St. — $452,599

Miss Vickie’s Café, 31 E. Jackson St. — $100,454

Impact Fitness and Lifestyle Center, 430 W. Edgewood Court, Unit A — $42,874

Firehouse Pizza, 201 S. Main St. — $33,289

Jefferson Place Apartments, 120 W. Jefferson St., Suite10 — $22,492.29

Washington

Kep’s Sports Bar & Grill, 313 Muller Road — $463,103

Cummins Family Restaurant, 1869 Washington Road — $433,607.04

Mariachio Mexican Restaurant Bar and Grill, 1964 Freedom Parkway — $160,367.81

Kirk’s Korner Tap, 2359 Washington Road — $49,492

East Peoria

BBQ Smokewagon, 245 Farmdale Road — $130,723

Meadows Avenue Tap, 2000 Meadow Ave. — $121,750

Carrigan’s Pub, 5506 N. Main St. — $85,365.50

Davis Bros. Pizza, 2402 E. Washington St. — $24,446

Creve Coeur

Kuchie’s on the Water, 579 Wesley Road — $128,283

Lucky Break, 636 S. Main St. — $4,160

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Tremont

Jack’s Café, 130 Lake St. — $71,408

Big Art’s Yokel, 21461 Illinois Route 9 — $63,802

Marquette Heights

Kona Ice of Peoria, 813 Lincoln Road — $44,026.69

North Pekin

Blondie’s Gaming Café, 135 Radio City Drive, Suite D — $12,249

Mackinaw

Haynes on Main, 108 S. Main St. — $65,980

Minier

Minier Tap, 121 S. Main Ave. — $52,259.18

This article originally appeared on Pekin Daily Times: These Tazewell County restaurants received COVID-19 relief funds