In an effort to support New York City Latino, Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander restaurateurs across The Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester County (Mt. Vernon and Yonkers), a group of food-related organizations has joined forces to launch the Rising Restaurateur initiative, a $200,000 microgrant program. 

 

The entities behind the initiative are Grubhub, NYS Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association (NYSRBLA) and Oyate Group, an NYC-based anti-poverty nonprofit. They say NYC restaurateurs are in need of much-needed funding and mentoring to overcome various financial challenges and that this initiative hopes to help address their needs. They said applications are now open and the closing date is April 30.

 

“Rising Restaurateur is a continuation of Oyate Group’s initiatives to create sustainable structures that support the growth and prosperity of New Yorkers,” a spokesperson from Oyate said. “Last year, it launched an entrepreneurship program to incubate local BIPOC-owned small businesses, awarding up to $50,000 in capital. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it awarded $100,000 in grants to Bronx-based small businesses to keep them from closing.” 

 

Initially a partnership between Grubhub and NYSRBLA, Oyate Group representatives said the group joined the partnership to match Grubhub’s financing for the program and increase the total awards to $200,000. They said selected participants will not only have access to microgrants of up to $10,000 but also business development opportunities through Oyate Group.

Tomas Ramos, founder and president of Oyate Group, Sandra Jaquez, president of the NYS Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association, and Grubhub’s head of community affairs, Brett Swanson, are each hoping the initiative will help support small businesses across these regions. Click here to apply by April 30.

 

Read our recent story on a recent event celebrating small businesses in the north Bronx here, and a recent story about how small businesses are allegedly being pushed out of the Kingsbridge Heights neighborhood by larger developers.