This program seeks to assist a broad array of restaurants that have contributed to their neighborhood’s history and identity and that help tell a diverse story about cuisine and community in America.
Donor Name: Natural Trust for Historic Preservation
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/12/2023
Size of the Grant: $40,000
Details:
The Backing Historic Small Restaurants program, presented by American Express in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will award a total of $1 million in grants ($40,000 each) to 25 historic and culturally significant restaurants in the United States.
The Program is intended to support small historic restaurants in the United States as they recover from disasters and/or other hardships with a preference for small businesses owned by underrepresented groups, including people of color, those with disabilities, women, and others.
Eligible restaurants are those businesses
- that have a physical location (meaning “brick-and-mortar” location) that operate in an older or historic main street, downtown or commercial district in the United States, including local, state, or National Register of Historic Places designations (individually or contributing to a historic district), in a Main Street community, or in old buildings;
- that are located in a community that has been disproportionally impacted by disasters or other hardships;
- that employ fewer than 100 employees (including the company owners);
- that are a registered business entity in good standing in the state in which it was formed and the state in which it does business (e.g., not an unincorporated contractor or self-employed individual); and
- that are not part of a national franchise. Digital-only businesses are not eligible (digital includes, without limitation, online and application-based businesses).
Applicants must be an owner of the eligible small business and 18 years of age or older. A preference may be given to eligible small businesses that are: Asian, Asian American, and/or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses; African American or Black-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)); Hispanic or LatinX-owned businesses; LGBTQIA+-owned businesses; Indigenous-owned businesses (including American Indian or Alaska Native); and woman-owned businesses.
Funding Information
Each of the 25 selected restaurants will receive a $40,000 grant with additional support from program partners. The selected restaurants will enter into a grant agreement with the National Trust outlining the terms and conditions of the grant.
The eligible funding breakdown is as follows:
- At least $20,000 must be used towards exterior improvement(s).
- Up to $10,000 can be allotted for unrestricted uses such as general operating expenses or any other business-related expenses for the restaurant.
- Up to $10,000 can be used for the support of a preservation partner to help scope, manage, develop, or collaborate on the improvement project.
Exterior, public-facing improvements to historic buildings include (but not limited to) murals, awnings, lighting, signage upgrades, painting or cleaning of exterior facades, and/or the creation of outdoor seating areas. Updates to websites for better operations may be permitted. Projects that prioritize scope towards exterior improvements will be most competitive. Grant funds may not be used for work completed prior to receipt of the grant.
All proposed rehabilitation and/or preservation work and improvements must be submitted to and approved in advance by the National Trust and must be conducted in accordance with local design guidelines.
Grant Selection Criteria for Eligible U.S. Small Restaurants
- Is a small/independently owned restaurant located in a historic or older building or neighborhood.
- Contributes to the history and/or identity of its surrounding community or neighborhood.
- Tells an inclusive story about cuisine and community in America (such as historic or ethnic food ways or culinary heritage).
- Has a compelling and inspiring historical narrative or cultural significance.
- Has been disproportionately impacted by economic challenges, disasters, or other hardships.
For more information, visit Natural Trust for Historic Preservation.
