Food delivery service DoorDash is giving about 125 small Virginia restaurants $3,500 each in partnership with the Virginia Restaurant Lodging Travel Association (VRLTA) but time is running out — the deadline to apply for the grant is 5 p.m. March 1.
“Virginia’s restaurants have faced unprecedented challenges the past year,” VRLTA President Eric Terry said in a press release. “DoorDash’s donation to the state’s restaurant relief efforts will offer much-needed help to small businesses.”
The grants are specifically targeted at brick-and-mortar restaurants that had revenue or financial stress caused by COVID-19.
They are available to independently owned food service establishments with no more than three locations, and at least one of those locations must be open. Applicants can apply for a grant for one location, which must have annual gross revenue less than $3 million with less than 50 employees.
The grants are administered by the VRLTA, but recipients do not have to use DoorDash or be VRLTA members. To apply, visit vrlta.org/doordash-grant-information.html.
“The Grants will be distributed to restaurants across the Commonwealth, with priority given to those businesses which have not received significant support at the federal, state, or local level,” the VRLTA announcement states. “In addition, a minimum of 20 percent of the grants will be earmarked to minority-owned and/or women-owned businesses.”
The program coincides with DoorDash’s Main Street Strong Accelerator which is giving $20,000 grants to 100 restaurants in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.
“DoorDash’s mission is to empower local economies. The success of restaurants is central to that goal,” DoorDash Director of U.S. Government Relations East David London said. “We’ve seen the immense challenges restaurants have faced over the past year as they’ve navigated serving communities throughout the COVID crisis and are proud to help support Virginia restaurants through the ongoing challenges.”
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Doordash Bag” by Doordash.
