WORCESTER, Mass. - Nearly 60 local restaurants were awarded $13 million in federal COVID-19 pandemic relief.

The funding -- part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan -- was made possible through nearly $29 billion in Restaurant Revitalization funds. 

Whiskey on Water was among the city's restaurants and bars that applied for the revitalization funding, but were not selected by the Small Business Administration.

"Obviously we have a pretty big hole to dig out of so those funds would have helped us dig out of that hole," said Kurt Friel, co-owner of the Water Street restaurant. "They had a closed period when they could have taken the applications and then prorated the $28 billion so that everyone got something."

The money doesn't have to be paid back, but needs to be used by March 2023. Funds can be used for payroll costs, mortgages, rent, debt service, utility payments, outdoor seating planning and construction, and more. 

"I feel blessed with the PPP loans and that helped us, absolutely. But sales were down significantly from the year before, even in the fall when you could open quite a bit," said Richard Romaine, President of R&R Hospitality and co-owner of Smokestack Urban Barbecue on Green Street and 'Olo Pizza on Millbrook Street.

R&R Hospitality also applied, but weren't among the selected restaurants. 

"Had I known you could just close for the year and then get your money almost for the year, you know think about it, it would be a lot less stress on you,"​ Romaine said.

Worcester restaurants received awards of more than $1.3 million to less than $9,000. 

See the list here: