By Susan Payne
LGBTQ-owned or allied restaurants in Long Beach are invited to apply for Grubhub’s Community Impact Grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.
Starting March 15, establishments that serve food in Long Beach can apply. Applications will close on April 5 and awards will be announced in June. However, these dates are a rough timeline and subject to change, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
“I haven’t heard of anybody in particular that has promised to apply, but I do know that there are several [establishments] in our community that I’m hoping will take advantage of this,” Ellie Dote, president of the Long Beach LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, told the Signal Tribune.
Grant funds can be used for updating security, purchasing new equipment, increasing community involvement, marketing, updating digital commerce presence, staff training and pay, maintaining infrastructure and more.
In total, $1.5 million will be dispersed, with $500,000 allocations for establishments on the East Coast, Central U.S. and on the West Coast. At least 30% of the funds will go to businesses owned by people of color, transgender or gender-expansive individuals.
An allied restaurant is “one that is promised to be a safe space for LGBT people in our communities,” Dote said
To learn more about the Community Impact Grants can visit www.nglcc.org/ghgrant.
