JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Commerce Announce Program to Support Bars and Restaurants

Columbus, Ohio –  JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Liquor Control today announced they will offer a one-time rebate to bars and restaurants to defray the cost of restocking high-proof spirituous liquor. Beginning in mid-May, JobsOhio will provide a $500 rebate in high-proof spirituous liquor to eligible permits for purchases made through Ohio Liquor Contract Liquor Agencies. Permit holders must register to be eligible for rebate.

"The liquor rebate for Ohio’s bars and restaurants is part of ongoing efforts to support Ohio businesses during the COVID-19 crisis," said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and chief investment officer. "Because JobsOhio’s business model is unlike any other in America, we have had the unique capability to commit up to $300 million for similar initiatives since mid-March to help Ohioans when it is needed most."

The Liquor Rebate Program is part of a broad directive from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to find innovative options that assist businesses’ as they navigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We know this has been an uncertain time for Ohio bars and restaurants," said Sherry Maxfield, Director of the Department of Commerce. "We hope this brings some relief as they plan for reopening. Our team and agency partners will continue to find ways to ease some of the burden."

Rebates will be applied as soon as a permit holder places an order from their assigned Agency. For example, if a permit holder purchases $1,000 in high proof liquor to restock inventory, the rebate will be applied at the point of sale and the actual cash cost to the permit holder will be $500.

"Bars and restaurants have been hit hard economically by the COVID-19 pandemic, and creative solutions will be needed to help them eventually open once again," said Lorraine Terry, JobsOhio Beverage System Managing Director. "When bars and restaurants make plans to open operations, they can do so with the confidence they will have a rebate available to help them stock their shelves."

There are more than 13,600 eligible permits in Ohio, totaling $6.8 million in potential rebates available to bars and restaurants. To view qualifying permits and to register for the liquor rebate program, visit Wholesale.OHLQ.com.

JobsOhio is a private nonprofit economic development corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion. The organization also works to seed talent production in its targeted industries and to attract talent to Ohio though Find Your Ohio. JobsOhio works with six regional partners across Ohio: Dayton Development Coalition, Ohio Southeast, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

The Division of Liquor Control is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The Department is Ohio’s chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.
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Ohio Liquor is a partnership between the Ohio Division of Liquor Control and JobsOhio Beverage System (JOBS). JOBS owns the spirituous liquor product (intoxicating liquor containing more than 21 percent alcohol by volume) in Ohio for retail and wholesale sales. The division manages wholesale and retail operations for the sale of spirituous liquor in Ohio. OHLQ Locations are private businesses which own and operate retail outlets and sell spirituous liquor products on consignment. Profits from spirituous liquor provide dedicated funding for JobsOhio’s economic development efforts.