Grant Opportunity for small independent restaurant owners in Toronto. Application closes on July 7, 2023.

For the second straight year, American Express Canada, a global service and integrated payments company that provides customers with access to products, insights, and experiences that enrich lives and build business success, in partnership with International Downtown Association Foundation, is now accepting applications for its Backing International Small Restaurants’ Program.

About the Program

The Backing International Small Restaurants’ Program offers grant funding to help and support independent restaurants, cafes, bars, or pubs with food offerings with community significance in five major global cities – London, Mexico City, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto. The program seeks 36 restaurants across these five global cities, offering USD 450,000 in grant funding.

The grants are aimed at small, independent restaurants owned by individuals from underrepresented and/or economically vulnerable groups to help make critical improvements needed to help boost their business, such as enhancing digital capabilities, building or revitalizing their dining spaces, and making other physical improvements.

Available Funding

• Total grant funds of USD 450,000 to 36 restaurants in five major global cities – London, Mexico City, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The eligibility criteria include

• Restaurants must already be in operation/open for business.

• Restaurants must have a brick-and-mortar location/storefront.

• Restaurants must have an annual revenue of less than CAD 1 Million.

• Restaurants that are registered business entities and are in good standing in the jurisdiction of formation and the city in which it does business

• Restaurants that are not part of a franchise with more than five locations. 

NOTE THAT

• Digital-only businesses are not eligible (digital includes online and application-based businesses).

• Prior grant recipients are not eligible.

• A preference may be given to eligible small businesses that are: Black-owned or person of color-owned businesses; businesses owned by persons with disabilities (meaning an impairment of the body and/or mind, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)); LGBTQIA+-owned businesses; Indigenous-owned businesses; immigrant-owned businesses; and woman-owned businesses.

You can view additional information on the program, such as program conditions and FAQs, here.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information on the grant program, view the original article on the American Express website. Click the link below to navigate the site and submit your application.

DEADLINE

Applications for this program are due by Friday, July 7, 2023. Successful grantees are expected to be announced around September 2023.

As always, we will keep you posted on any open relevant grant programs and contests for small businesses and organizations within the province!

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