TORONTO — DoorDash is set to provide $1,125,000 in local COVID-19-relief grants as part of its expanded grant program to help restaurants in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
Restaurants will be able to apply to receive a $3,000 grant to be used to offset costs associated with the ongoing pandemic. The grant program is part of the company’s US$200-million, five-year Main Street Strong Pledge, which includes a US$10-million grant program to help restaurants in select cities across Canada and the U.S.
“Restaurants in our city have been heavily impacted by the ongoing pandemic,” says Toronto Mayor John Tory. “This new program from DoorDash embodies the importance of working together and supporting each other through these difficult times. I want to thank DoorDash for stepping up and for providing financial assistance to restaurants across this city. I hope that restaurants in Toronto are able to take advantage of this grant program so we can continue to build up and support our city’s main streets.”
Hello Alice will manage the application and selection process for the program while the Ontario Chamber of Commerce will manage distribution of funds to recipients in each city. Grant recipients will be selected based on criteria set out in the application and a process intended to help ensure equal access to funds and eliminate selection bias.
“We’re committed to supporting Canadian restaurants as they continue to navigate uncertainties presented by the pandemic,” says David London, director, U.S. East and Canada Government Relations, DoorDash. “Whether it’s to maintain operations or help support staff, we hope these grants will play a role in enabling our merchants to stay resilient and continue to feed their local communities.”
Applications are available today through February 17 at doordash.helloalice.com. Selected restaurants will be notified by March 1, 2021 and funds will be distributed by early April. Eligible restaurants will be located in Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver; must have three stores or fewer currently operating; $3 million or less in 2019 annual revenue per store; and employ 50 people or fewer per store.
“Vancouver is home to so many amazing restaurants and we know they need our support now more than ever,” says Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart. “It’s great to see DoorDash stepping up to support restaurants in our city by providing this funding. We all need to work together to get through these challenging times and we hope this serves as an example for other companies.”
