By Keely Arthur, WRAL reporter Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina launched a $500 million program Thursday to help restaurants and other small businesses recover from pandemic-related losses. The North Carolina Business Recovery Grant Program allows business owners who have seen at least a 20 percent decline in revenue to apply for grants equal to 10 percent of their losses, up to $500,000. Because the hospitality industry was hit so hard by closures and other restrictions, $300 million of the fund is earmarked for restaurants, hotels, bars and other entertainment businesses. “North Carolina’s restaurants, hotels and bars saw over $5 billion in losses due to no fault of their own. These…