American Express (NYSE: AXP) has announced that it will once again award $40,000 grants to 25 historic small restaurants across the country as part of its Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program, administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is encouraging the many small, historic restaurants along Route 66, to apply for this grant program to help offset the financial challenges created by Covid-19 impacts.
Grant applications and public nominations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. ET on April 4, 2022. Visit
https://savingplaces.org/historicrestaurants for information on how to apply or nominate a historic small Route 66 restaurant. Independent small restaurants that have been in business for over 25 years and that operate in historic buildings or neighborhoods are eligible to apply for grants.
The Backing Historic Small Restaurant Grant Program was first launched in February of 2021 to help small
restaurants that have contributed to the fabric of their communities so they can better serve their customers, financially recover, and grow their businesses. American Express is continuing to work with the National Trust on this program that focuses on historic small restaurants that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. It builds on American Express’ ongoing Backing Small initiative to provide economically vulnerable small businesses with financial support and other resources to address their critical needs and challenges, which include Small Business Saturday and grant programs like the Coalition to Back Black Businesses and the recent Services That Back Us program.
In a press release issued earlier today, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at American Express Jennifer Skyler said, “Historic restaurants have long been some of the most important establishments in our communities…. While their future looks bright, many of these restaurants are still carrying the weight of the pandemic, and we are here to support them through this next phase of recovery.”
“The press release issued by American Express and the National Trust, emphasizes how important small historic restaurants are to our nation’s heritage, community identity and economic health,” said Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership Chair, Bill Thomas. “We, at the Road Ahead, couldn’t agree more. We would love to see a number of legacy restaurants along the mother road receive a much needed boost from this opportunity.”
Established in 2016, with the support of the National Park Service and the World Monuments’ Fund, The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s mission is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national and international icon through partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research and education, and economic development.
Contact:
Bill Thomas, Chairman
Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership
rt66theroadahead@gmail.com
217-648-5077
