Backing International Small Restaurants Grant Program

The Backing International Small Restaurants Grant Program provides direct grant funding to small, independently owned restaurants to help them grow, recover, and support their local communities. Funding can be used for initiatives such as enhancing digital capabilities, refurbishing dining spaces, and improving kitchen operations. The program is supported by American Express and administered by the International Downtown Association. Grants are awarded in specified cities with set numbers and amounts for each location.

Monetary grants in city-specific amounts to support business improvements (digital capabilities, dining space projects, kitchen operations).

Restaurants must be located in one of the program cities, be open for business with a brick-and-mortar location and in operation prior to September 1, 2025, be a small/independently owned for-profit restaurant/café/bar/pub (not a franchise with more than 5 locations), and have 2025 annual revenue below market-specific thresholds.

Applicants create or log in to a Submittable account and use the country and language-specific application links.