Grubhub and the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship have announced that 73 Asian American and Pacific Islander-owned restaurants have been awarded grants of $25,000, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund. In addition, three finalists were awarded $100,000 each.
The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is intended to provide relief to AAPI small business owners in the restaurant industry, amidst an extended period of unforeseeable and unprecedented economic and social volatility. The fund also seeks to help restaurants pay employees’ wages, expand operations, or repair damage to the restaurant caused by discrimination or bias.
Krizzia Yanga (pictured above), owner of the restaurant Bonifacio was one of the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund finalists.
“From factory shutdowns to a scarcity of commercial truck drivers, COVID has affected not only the prices and supply of domestic products, it also made imported products nearly impossible to acquire,” she said in a statement. “As an AAPI restaurant with ingredients that are imported from the Philippines and other Asian countries, the travel restrictions, staff shortages in the logistics industry, and the rising cost of transportation have made it difficult for us to maintain fair prices and stay true to cooking authentic Filipino flavors.”
Another finalist from Hawaii, Robynne Maii of Fête, is doing everything she can to combat food insecurity on her island.
“We are concerned about food security in Hawaii. If the boats stopped coming to our islands, the state would have about a two-week food supply,” she said. “This is scary and concerning. When we opened Fête, it was important for us to source as many products as we could, locally. Ninety percent of our produce, eggs, meat, poultry, and seafood is sourced locally. By honoring how we source, we send a clear message to our community of where we stand. We support other local businesses to help sustain the economic flow.”
A national survey released by National ACE and Reimagine Main Street, in May 2022, found that about 40 percent of AAPI respondents lacked the confidence to fund an unplanned $5,000 business expense, and over half lacked confidence they could fund the initiatives that would propel their small business to the next level, such as a marketing campaign, increasing payroll, or purchasing property or equipment.
“Restaurants play a vital role in their communities, and Grubhub is committed to helping them have a positive impact on the people they serve,” said Dave Tovar, Grubhub’s SVP of communications and government relations, in a statement. “This grant program, which is made possible through our Grubhub Community Fund, helps alleviate some of the financial strain restaurants have experienced over the last several years—allowing them to market and grow their business and invest in new technologies.”
Related: Restaurants Report Becoming More Sustainable Since Pandemic; Baldor Expands Distribution in Mid-Atlantic Region