The International Downtown Association Foundation (IDA Foundation) and the West Queen West Business Improvement Area (BIA), supported by American Express, have launched a program for small, independent restaurants in Toronto's West Queen West neighborhood. Together, they have released five grants of $18,500 CAD each.
In partnership with American Express, the program supports culturally-significant, independent restaurants that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic in five major cities globally. To select grant recipients from within the West Queen West BIA boundaries, IDA Foundation is in partnership with the West Queen West BIA in Toronto. In order to help restaurants recover from the effects of the pandemic and make critical improvements needed to sustain their operations, such as improving digital capabilities, making physical improvements, and building outdoor dining areas, five of them will receive $18,500 CAD each.
David Downey, Executive Director, IDA Foundation says: "We are able to implement this groundbreaking work thanks to the generous support of American Express. We must do everything we can to build these businesses back up following the devastating economic consequences resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and that means infusing our local mainstays with as much direct assistance as possible. Not only will Backing International Small Restaurants help small businesses thrive, but it also will play a role in furthering diversity, equity and inclusion—a key objective of the IDA Foundation."
Toronto Restoration Efforts
New Amex-Backed Grant Program Supports Local Restaurants in Toronto
Trend Themes
1. Backing International Small Restaurants Program - Grants for small independent restaurants disproportionately impacted by the pandemic in major cities across the world, to support recovery and improvements needed to sustain operations.
2. Building Outdoor Dining Areas - Creating outdoor dining areas as a critical improvement needed to sustain restaurant operations during and after the pandemic.
3. Improving Digital Capabilities - Improving digital capabilities as a critical improvement needed to sustain restaurant operations during and after the pandemic.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurants and Food Services - Opportunities to create programs and initiatives to support recovery and improvement of small, independent restaurants impacted by the pandemic.
2. Urban Development and Business Improvement - Opportunities for urban development and business improvement organizations to partner with corporations to create programs and initiatives to support small businesses impacted by the pandemic.
3. Financial Services - Opportunities for financial services industry to provide targeted funding and grants to support the recovery and improvement of small, independent restaurants impacted by the pandemic.