Applications now open for eligible small restaurants in
Toronto and Montreal
TORONTO, May 22, 2025
/CNW/ - American Express today announced the return of its Backing
International Small Restaurants grant program in Canada, reaffirming its commitment to helping
small, independent restaurants grow and thrive. In partnership with
the International Downtown Association (IDA) Foundation, the 2025
program will offer 20 grants of $20,000 CAD each to selected restaurants in
Toronto and Montreal.
Now in its fourth year in Canada, the program is designed to help small,
independent restaurants that support their communities –
specifically those serving or operated by individuals facing
economic hardship – to make meaningful upgrades, like enhancing
digital capabilities, improving kitchen operations and reimagining
their dining spaces. Applications in Canada are open until June 30, 2025. Eligible, independent restaurants
located in Toronto and
Montreal are encouraged to
apply.
"At American Express, we're proud to continue backing small
restaurants that play such a vital role in our local communities,"
said Kerri-Ann Santaguida, Vice
President and General Manager, Merchant Services, American Express
Canada. "These restaurants are more than just places to dine — they
are cultural and community anchors. This program is designed to
invest in this important group of business owners so they are able
to preserve what makes their restaurants so special."
Since launching in 2022, the Backing International Small
Restaurants initiative has supported more than 135 restaurants
worldwide. Among last year's Canadian recipients was Montréal's
Bocadillo, a family-run restaurant that used its grant to expand
its role as a hub for the city's music and dance community.
"The grant had allowed us to host more live music events,
upgrade our sound system, and improve the dining experience for our
guests, ultimately helping us strengthen our connection with our
local community in Montreal," said
Laura Uzcategui, owner of
Bocadillo.
This year, Backing International Small Restaurants is bigger
than ever and is open to applicants in three new countries —
France, New Zealand, and Spain — in addition to restaurants in
Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, and the U.K. The program is offering
$1.45 million USD in funding to 100
restaurants so they can make critical improvements, like upgrading
kitchen equipment and making improvements to their storefront.
"The IDA Foundation is excited to partner once again with
American Express to launch the fourth year of the Backing
International Small Restaurants program," said David Downey, Executive Director, IDA Foundation. "To empower these vital
community anchors to thrive, this initiative provides essential
support to the independent restaurants that are the heart and soul
of our downtowns."
In addition to this program backing independent, small
restaurants, Amex Canada is also demonstrating its support of the
Canadian small business community through a grant and mentorship
program run by DMZ at Toronto
Metropolitan University. Funded by Amex Canada and administered by
DMZ, 100 Canadian small businesses will be selected to each receive
a $10,000 CAD grant and mentoring
support.
About American Express
Amex (NYSE: AXP) is a global, premium payments and lifestyle
brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back
our customers with differentiated products, services and
experiences that enrich lives and build business success.
Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, Amex' brand is built on trust,
security, and service, and a rich history of delivering innovation
and Membership value for our customers. With a hundred million
merchant locations on our global network in over 200 countries and
territories, we seek to provide the world's best customer
experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and
medium-sized businesses, and large corporations.
For more information about American Express in Canada, visit amex.ca and connect with us on
Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION
FOUNDATION
The International Downtown Association Foundation is a
charitable nonprofit organization working in collaboration with the
International Downtown Association (IDA) to provide education,
research, and support for creating prosperous city centers,
commercial neighborhoods and livable urban places for all.
SOURCE American Express Canada
