Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is extending assistance to local restaurants and small businesses by way of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, ABC reported on Wednesday (Dec. 23).

A new provision passed Tuesday (Dec. 22) enables people using SNAP to spend benefits on restaurant food. A second liquor buyback program is also underway. The program authorizes the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) to offer a spirits cash buyback to liquor licensees whose businesses have been affected by executive orders relating to the pandemic.

The new policies are intended to assist bars and restaurants severely impacted by pandemic-related losses. 

“As we head into another Michigan winter, I’ll continue to do everything I can to support our families and small businesses,” Whitmer said, per ABC. “These actions will ensure that families have the support they need to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads this winter, as well as provide support to local restaurants and small business owners all over the state struggling as a result of the pandemic.”

SNAP is currently extended to about 180,000 senior citizens, 134,000 people with disabilities, and 1,200 homeless people, ABC reported, all of whom will now be able to spend their monthly benefits at bars and restaurants.

In order to participate in the SNAP program, bars and restaurants have to register with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. For SNAP recipients, the purchasing process will be the same as it is at grocery stores. 

The MLCC’s buyback program gives bars and taverns the ability to use their liquor supply as loan collateral. The first round of the program provided about $5,000 to each operation, totaling almost $3.4 million.

Amazon recently struck an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to accept SNAP benefits for groceries on its platform, whether the user is a Prime member or not. In August, more states started allowing SNAP benefits to be used for online grocery shopping as the pandemic continued to make social distancing a necessity.

Earlier this month, H-E-B Supermarket chain started letting customers use SNAP to pay for curbside pickup or home delivery, either online or via smartphone.