American Express Expands its “Backing International Small Restaurants” Program to Nine Cities Globally; More than Doubles Funding to $955,000

American Express announced that it is expanding support for its “Backing International Small Restaurants” program to nine cities across five countries in 2024, up from five cities across five countries. Four new cities will be eligible for grant funding this year: Manchester, Melbourne, Montreal, and Osaka, in addition to restaurants in London, Mexico City, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto that have been a part of the program since 2022. In partnership with the International Downtown Association (IDA) Foundation, the program will more than double the annual grant funding to $955,000, up from $435,000 in previous years. Since the inception of Backing International Small Restaurants in 2022, American Express has provided $810,000 in funding to more than 70 global restaurants.

“We deeply value the rich culture and connectivity that independent small restaurants create within local communities around the world,” said Madge Thomas, President, American Express Foundation & Head of Corporate Sustainability. “We believe that backing small businesses will continue to bring economic vitality to cities with a legacy of community restaurants. The scale-up of the program this year is a testament to the value it has already brought to restaurant owners, and we are grateful to our partners at the IDA Foundation for helping us expand our vision.”

“The grant has given me a new passion to see through this difficult economic time and we wouldn’t have been able to survive without the program,” said Andrew Poynter, founder and owner, The Goods Office in London and 2023 grantee. “Things are looking much better, and the new bar layout and ice cream machine have given us the boost we needed.”

This year, more than 65 small and independently owned restaurants with community significance and economic need will receive grants of up to $15,000 each for physical or digital improvements to their business. These improvements will have a long-term impact on business growth and sustainability, allowing owners to grow their customer base and increase community vibrancy.

“We’re excited to be partnering with American Express again for the third year of the Backing International Small Restaurants program. This year’s expansion to nine global cities demonstrates our shared commitment to boosting long-term sustainability for culturally significant and independent restaurants,” said David Downey, Executive Director, IDA Foundation. “By increasing the grant amount, we can provide even greater support to these businesses, empowering them to thrive and continue to be cultural cornerstones within their communities.”

American Express has a long history of supporting small businesses and this program was developed following the success of the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” program in the U.S.

Restaurant owners can learn more about eligibility and apply for a grant at downtown.org/foundation through May 30, 2024, 11:59PM EST.

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ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS

American 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 

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.