(WWJ)  There’s some money available for qualifying Michigan workers whose income took a hit due to COVID-19.

Announced on Monday, the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association has received a $2.5M grant from the Michigan Department of Treasury to continue to support restaurant and lodging industry workers who were financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Funds will be granted to individuals that can demonstrate need and proof of hospitality industry employment as of March 10, 2020.

Payments of up to $500 will be granted to all approved applicants until resources are fully depleted.

“We are thankful to Governor Whitmer and the Michigan legislators for their support of the state’s hospitality workers. More than half of the 600,000 hospitality workers in Michigan temporarily lost their jobs and too many restaurants across the state were unable to reopen after the shutdown,” said Justin Winslow MRLA President & CEO.

All eligible hospitality employees in Michigan should apply for assistance online from Sept. 22 until Oct. 1 at mrlaef.org/relief-fund.

Applications will open again at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22 and will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, and payments will be issues in late October.

“The money for the employee relief fund is going to help these employees make it through until our economy is fully reopened,” said Senator Jim Stamas, R-Midland

Stamas sponsored Public Act 123 of 2020 authorizing use of available federal CARES Act funding to help Michigan families, workers and schools affected by the COVID-19 health crisis.