Bronx nonprofit Oyate Group is teaming up with Grubhub and the New York State Latino Restaurant Association to help give businesses a boost.
The Rising Restaurateur is a $200,000 grant designated for minority-owned food and beverage businesses.
"It aims to help small businesses come back from the burners of the pandemic to make sure they are not closing the doors and continue to thrive, but more importantly lift their struggles forward," said Alexander Reyes, program coordinator for the Oyate Group.
The Oyate Group is a nonprofit that focuses on alleviating poverty across New York City through specific programs.
Cafe Colonial in Pelham Parkway applied for the grant. The Dominican restaurant is owned by Sandra Cruz, who is from the Dominican Republic. The cafe has been a staple of White Plains Road since 2008. Like many restaurants, it is still recovering from the pandemic.
"It has been rough the last few years of the restaurant, it's been difficult to keep it standing, but we are still here trying to fight as much as we can," said Priscilla Orozco, the cafe's administrator.
Orozco government funding helped the restaurant stay open and keep staff employed through the pandemic.
Cafe Colonial says if awarded this grant, it will be able to create outdoor dining to expand seating for the restaurant.
The deadline to apply is April 30. Applicants can apply through the Oyate Group's website.