A new financial assistance program hopes to help local hospitality workers

Heart of Hospitality GVL — a joint effort by VisitGreenvilleSC + the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association — is the first of its kind in our city.

GVLtoday downtown

Greenville is known for it’s southern hospitality. | Photo by James Simpson Photography

VisitGreenvilleSC + the Greenville chapter of the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association have partnered together to create Heart of Hospitality GVL — a new financial assistance grant program to help hospitality workers in Greenville.

Planning for the grant program started in 2019 and was inspired by a similar program in Spartanburg called Hubitality.

Heart of Hospitality GVL’s focus will be on providing grants of up to $2,500 to hospitality workers who have experienced illness, injury, or disaster. There are also plans to include a $500 maternity grant and a mental health support program.

While the SC tourism industry brings in ~$23 billion dollars, according to Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, 89.7% of hospitality workers in the U.S. don’t have health insurance through their employer.

Fundraising, donations, and strategic partnerships will support the new program + Heart of Hospitality GVL will start accepting applications in January 2025.

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