Online food delivery platform Grubhub has partnered with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) to provide financial grants amounting from US$5,000 to US$100,000 that would support LGBTQ restaurants.
This grant is set to help “restaurants, bars, or cafés that serve food” that are owned by LGBTQ people or LGBTQ allies that were severely affected by the loss of business due to COVID-19.
LGBTQ restaurants to get business aid
The NGLCC said that 30% of the grants from the Community Impact Grant Program will be given to restaurants owned by people of color, as well as transgender and gender non-conforming people.
In a press release, the NGLCC said: “These small business owners have been among hardest hit by COVID impact with loss of jobs and income over the past two years.”
This is part of Grubhub’s Donate the Change program, which the NGLCC was named as the official partner. The program was first launched in late 2018 for organizations in need.
Under the partnership, Grubhub and Seamless diners could opt-in, round up their order total, and donate the difference. The company can match eligible donations from Grubhub+ members.
The proceeds will now be made available through NGLCC that will support the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ-owned restaurants.
Grubhub-NGLCC partnership to support recovery
NGLCC Co-Founder and President Justin Nelson said: “We often say at NGLCC that ‘If you can buy it, an LGBTQ+-owned business can supply it’.”
“That is especially true of the LGBTQ+-owned restaurants across America who kept our communities and first responders fed throughout the pandemic,” Nelson said.
“We’re proud to partner with Grubhub in offering these grants to support these businesses throughout the nation,” Nelson added.
Meanwhile, Kevin Kearns, senior vice president of restaurants at Grubhub, said that “many businesses are rebuilding and reopening, especially LGBTQ+-owned restaurants that are often the pillars of their communities.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with NGLCC and give back to the LGBTQ community– one that has shown incredible strength and support for those in need throughout the pandemic,” Kearns said.
LGBTQ restaurants grant to support commerce chambers
Helping the NGLCC will be its network of more than fifty Affiliate Chambers across the US to amplify the grant opportunity to support local LGBTQ restaurants.
These chambers will also benefit from the program through the newly-established “Affiliate Chamber Fund.”
This fund will give an establishment that gets the grant but isn’t a member of the NGLCC local affiliate chamber a paid one-year membership.
Applications for the grant are open until October 12, after which the NGLCC and its partners will evaluate the applications.
Grantees will be awarded during the NGLCC Back to Business (B2B) Summit this November.