Returning for a fourth year the Backing International Small Restaurants programme is run by the International Downtown Association Foundation in partnership with the Association of Town & City Management in the UK and is open to applicants in three new countries - France, New Zealand, and Spain - in addition to restaurants in the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan and Mexico.
In the UK, the programme will provide a total of £220,000 in support of small, independent businesses in both London and Manchester. Twenty recipients will be selected to each receive £11,000 in grant funding.
Last year’s UK winners included Bury-based café Wax and Beans, which upgraded its kitchen and expanded its outside seating area.
“Receiving the Backing International Small Restaurants grant last year has allowed us to invest in upgrading our kitchen, as well as extending the outdoor dining area so that even more people can enjoy great coffee, food, and, of course, some excellent music, in the sun,” says Wax and Beans.
“The grant has made a real difference towards our mission of being a community hub and providing people a place to relax and socialise.”
American Express launched its Backing Small grant programmes in 2020 to help businesses that were forced to close their doors due to the pandemic, and has since supported nearly 5,000 small business across six countries.
Commenting on the programme, Dan Edelman, UK general manager of merchant services at American Express, says: “It’s thrilling to see the grant programme return to the UK once again, supporting independent restaurants in Manchester and London.
“These venues bring people together and contribute so much to local communities. Our hope is that these grants will help businesses grow, innovate, and continue to thrive into the future.”
In total, the programme is offering $1.45m in funding to 100 restaurants worldwide so they can make critical improvements, like enhancing their digital capabilities, refreshing dining spaces, and improving kitchen operations.
Applications for the Backing International Small Restaurants programme are now open and close on 30 June.