Delivery service DoorDash has launched a new initiative to help Canadian restaurants that are navigating uncertainties during COVID-19.
The delivery company has announced it will be providing $1,125,000 CAD in local grants that can be used by struggling restaurants in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver to offset costs as they continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scheme is part of DoorDash’s five-year Main Street Strong Pledge, a US$200 million program that includes a US$10 million initiative to help restaurants in select cities across Canada and the United States.
Eligible restaurants in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver can apply for the program, with selected restaurants chosen via a randomized process to ensure equal access to funds. Applying restaurants must have three stores or fewer in current operation, an annual revenue per store of $3 million CAD or less in 2019, and must employ 50 people or fewer per store.
Applications are available now through February 17, 2021 at doordash.helloalice.com, and selected restaurants will be notified by March 1, 2021. Funds will be distributed by early April.
The initiative has been hailed by Toronto Mayor John Tory and Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, as well as leading foodservice associations in the cities.
“Restaurants in our city have been heavily impacted by the ongoing pandemic,” said 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.”
“Vancouver is home to so many amazing restaurants and we know they need our support now more than ever. 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,” said Stewart.
DoorDash’s Director of U.S. East and Canada Government Relations, David London, stressed the company is “committed to supporting Canadian restaurants as they continue to navigate uncertainties presented by the pandemic.”
More informaton on DoorDash’s efforts to help restaurants through its grant program can be found here.
