American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Announce Awarding of $1 Million in Grants in support of “Historic Small Restaurants“
Acknowledging the special role that small restaurants have in local communities, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation partnered for the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program.” This week they announced the awarding of $1 million collectively in grant funding to 25 recipients across the country.
“We’re proud to give small restaurants the resources they need to grow their businesses and continue their legacies for years to come,” said Alice Lin Fabiano, Vice President, Community Impact at American Express. The “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” grant program reaffirms our long-standing commitment to backing small business owners.”
American Express provides the funding for the program and the National Trust for Historic Preservation serves to administer it. The partners have dispersed $2 million in grants to 50 U.S. historic restaurants collectively over the past two years, providing the small restaurant owners with the resources to improve their businesses and further their contributions to their communities.
One grant recipient is Nadine Hunt, owner of Miller’s Soul Food in Dublin, GA and a 2022 BHSR grant recipient. Hunt used the funding to update their restaurants exterior facade and install more energy-efficient windows and doors.
“Our regular customers noticed our new look right away and they are very impressed with the work so far,” said Hunt. “Because of that needed work, we’ve seen an increase in dine-in customers during our lunch hours.”
An additional benefit of the program is each recipient receives use of American Express’ Resy for one year. It is a hospitality technology platform with restaurant management software that helps the selected historic small restaurants better manage their costs and improve their operations.
Community members as of February 23, 2023 and through 11:59 PM ET on March 12, 2023 may nominate their local favorite establishments meeting the program’s eligibility criteria. To receive a grant the nominee must be a U.S. independent small restaurant and operate in historic buildings or neighborhoods, having a role in their neighborhood’s history and identity, showing a diverse story about about cuisine and community in America. Small restaurant owners may apply here.
The “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” is part of American Express’ Backing Small initiative that provides financial support and other resources to help small businesses—part of American Express’ long term commitment of supporting small businesses.
Approximately $17 million in funds are committed through 2024 with the Backing Small Initiative providing underrepresented small business owners and entrepreneurs grants, mentoring support, and technical assistance through established community partnerships.
