- \n
- \n$1 million in grants funded by American Express will be administered by the National Trust and awarded to 25 historic and culturally significant restaurants in the U.S. to help them navigate the impacts of the pandemic and support their financial recovery.\n<\/li>\n
- \nAs part of the grant program, AT&T Business and Dell Technologies will also offer up to $250,000 collectively in products and services to the grantees to upgrade their digital business capabilities.\n<\/li>\n
- \nHistoric small restaurants can be suggested for consideration at SavingPlaces.org\/HistoricRestaurants<\/a>. Final grantees will be selected by the National Trust, with input from American Express and a chef advisory committee including chefs Deborah VanTrece, Edouardo Jordan, and Kwame Onwuachi.\n<\/li>\n
- \nThe focus of the program will be on restaurants owned by underrepresented groups, including People of Color and women, disproportionally impacted by the pandemic.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)–
\nAmerican Express (NYSE: AXP), in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, today announced \u201cBacking Historic Small Restaurants,\u201d a more than $1 million investment to preserve historic restaurants in the U.S. as they continue to navigate the pandemic and plan for recovery. This is the latest in a series of initiatives<\/a> announced this month by American Express to support the restaurant community nationwide.\n<\/p>\n\nThrough the grant program, small historic restaurant owners will have the opportunity to improve, upgrade, and preserve their physical spaces and online businesses, as well as mitigate existing operating costs. For example, restaurants can rehabilitate the exteriors of historic buildings and facades, expand outdoor dining, upgrade their takeout and online ordering systems, or establish a stronger online presence. Updates like these are critical for future success in a post-pandemic world.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFor generations, our nation\u2019s oldest and most historic small restaurants have been safe spaces for customers to share meals, ideas, and their culture. They are at the heart of our neighborhoods, serve our communities, and help advance cultural and social change for those who live there,\u201d said Colleen Taylor, President of Merchant Services \u2013 U.S., American Express. \u201cMany have stood the test of time, but the pandemic has tested them in ways they could have never imagined. The \u2018Backing Historic Small Restaurants\u2019 program will help preserve these spaces not only for their legacy, but also for their earned place in our nation\u2019s future.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nAs part of the grant program, American Express\u2019s partners are also joining in to support these historic small restaurants:\n<\/p>\n
- \n
- AT&T Business<\/b> and Dell Technologies<\/b> will each offer up to $5K to each awarded historic small restaurant for a collective total of up to $250K to spend on products and services for digital upgrades.\n<\/li>\n
- Resy,<\/b> a hospitality technology platform that is part of the American Express family, will offer complimentary use of ResyOS \u2013 its restaurant management software \u2013 for one year to each of the historic small restaurants selected to help streamline costs and boost restaurant operations.\n<\/li>\n
- Main Street America<\/b> will provide specialized technical assistance on small business marketing strategy for grantees, delivered through a series of three training webinars and Q&A \u201cask the expert\u201d opportunities with UrbanMain Marketing Specialists.\n<\/li>\n
- The National Restaurant Association <\/b>and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation<\/b> will also offer access to virtual educational tools and training to support the 25-awarded restaurants, as well as up to 75 nominees.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n\u201cAmerican entrepreneurship is a defining aspect of our nation\u2019s heritage, and historic commercial landmarks are vital to community identity and economics,\u201d said Katherine Malone-France, Chief Preservation Officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. \u201cThis initiative acknowledges that legacy restaurants are not only welcoming spaces where people break bread, but also gathering places where history is made in meaningful ways, small and large, over and over again. Though hard hit by the pandemic, preserving these treasures helps restore our connectedness and commercial life. We are honored to partner with American Express to preserve these legacies and tell the powerful stories of restaurants that have nourished our souls, helped shape our past, and must be a part of our future.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nThe National Trust will work with American Express to identify historic small restaurants that need support and will award 25 grants of $40,000, totaling $1 million funded by American Express and administered by the National Trust. Historic small restaurants can be suggested at SavingPlaces.org\/HistoricRestaurants<\/a> for consideration. Final grantees will be selected by the National Trust, with input from American Express and a chef advisory committee assembled by Resy including chefs Deborah VanTrece, Edouardo Jordan, and Kwame Onwuachi.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe grantees will be announced in May to coincide with National Preservation Month.\n<\/p>\n
Grant Selection Criteria for Eligible U.S. Small Historic Restaurants:<\/b><\/p>\n
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- \nHave experienced significant financial hardship due to the impacts of the pandemic.\n<\/li>\n
- \nHave contributed to the neighborhood\u2019s history and\/or the identity of a particular neighborhood or community for at least 25 years.\n<\/li>\n
- \nBe a small\/independently owned restaurant located in a historic building and\/or historic neighborhood.\n<\/li>\n
- \nPreference will be given to businesses owned by underrepresented groups, including People of Color and women, disproportionally impacted by the pandemic.\n<\/li>\n
- \nPriority will be given to small restaurants who have not already received significant COVID-19-related aid.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Building on American Express and Resy\u2019s Support for Restaurants<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAmerican Express has made several commitments to support restaurants since the beginning of the pandemic, including a national campaign launched earlier this month with Resy to \u201cOrder In, Help Out.\u201d According to the American Express Independent Restaurant Insight Study, 89% of small, independent restaurant owners say they depend on takeout orders to stay afloat. The study also found that the simple act of ordering takeout can generate, on average, more than $700 million in daily sales for the industry1<\/sup>. \u201cOrder In, Help Out\u201d is an extension of American Express\u2019 Shop Small\u00ae effort, a global movement to spotlight and support small businesses, especially during the hardships experienced due to COVID-19.\n<\/p>\n
ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAmerican Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com<\/a> and connect with us on facebook.com\/americanexpress<\/a>, instagram.com\/americanexpress<\/a>, linkedin.com\/company\/american-express<\/a>, twitter.com\/americanexpress<\/a>, and youtube.com\/americanexpress<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n
\nKey links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards<\/a>, business credit cards<\/a>, travel services<\/a>, gift cards<\/a>, prepaid cards<\/a>, merchant services<\/a>, Accertify<\/a>, InAuth<\/a>, corporate card<\/a>, business travel<\/a>, and corporate responsibility<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n
ABOUT THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION<\/b><\/p>\n
\nThe National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America\u2019s historic places. SavingPlaces.org<\/a> | @savingplaces\n<\/p>\n
\nAmerican Express has invested more than $30M to preserve historic places in the U.S. through its close partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation since 1992.\n<\/p>\n
ABOUT AT&T COMMUNICATIONS<\/b><\/p>\n
\nWe help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T<\/a>). For more information, please visit us at att.com<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n
ABOUT DELL TECHNOLOGIES<\/b><\/p>\n
Dell Technologies<\/a> (NYSE:DELL) is a unique family of businesses that helps individuals and organizations of all sizes build their digital future and transform how they work, live, and play. With over 30 years\u2019 experience helping small businesses succeed, Dell Technologies partners with companies to create customized solutions to support their business needs. From providing a dedicated advisor to supplying best-in-business technology solutions, Dell Technologies keeps small businesses ready for what’s next. To learn more about Dell\u2019s solutions for small businesses, visit Dell.com<\/a><\/p>\n
ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA<\/b><\/p>\n
\nMain Street America is a national leader in economic development and community revitalization in older and historic commercial districts. We help build more sustainable and equitable communities by lifting up the people and places that make Main Streets thrive. The Main Street program was created as a program of the National Trust in 1980 to combat the harmful impacts of sprawl and the changing nature of retail on the physical character and economies of communities. Today\u2019s Main Street programs serve both rural and urban communities, more than 80% of which are located in low-to-moderate income census tracts. Main Street programs are currently in more than 1,200 communities in 45 states. The program has served more than 2,000 communities since its inception.\n<\/p>\n
AMERICAN EXPRESS INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT INSIGHT STUDY METHODOLOGY<\/b><\/p>\n
\nThe American Express Independent Restaurant Insight Study was conducted by Teneo on behalf of American Express. Consumer data is based on a survey of 1,004 Americans who visited a restaurant 2+ times a month before the COVID-19 pandemic. The anonymous survey was conducted online January 11-16, 2021. Data was weighted to reflect the demographic composition of the 18+ population of the U.S. based upon gender, age, education, race, and region. Restaurant owner data is based on an online study conducted among a sample of 500 respondents who are owners\/managers\/directors\/CEO\/etc. of an independently owned restaurant with fewer than 50 employees across all locations. The anonymous survey was conducted online January 8-18, 2021.\n<\/p>\n
\nLocation: U.S.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n1<\/sup> Estimate is based on average takeout sales as reported by restaurant owners surveyed and the total number of small restaurants in the US as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Restaurant Association.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
View source version on businesswire.com: <\/span>https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210223005318\/en\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
- Resy,<\/b> a hospitality technology platform that is part of the American Express family, will offer complimentary use of ResyOS \u2013 its restaurant management software \u2013 for one year to each of the historic small restaurants selected to help streamline costs and boost restaurant operations.\n<\/li>\n
- \nThe focus of the program will be on restaurants owned by underrepresented groups, including People of Color and women, disproportionally impacted by the pandemic.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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