Published: 10/27/2020 6:31:06 PM
Grants are available to help Concord restaurants pay for dividers or other material to help customers feel safer as outdoor dining ends.
The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce say grants of up to $1,500 will be awarded to restaurants to purchase materials.
“Concord restaurants have been hit hard by COVID-19, and they will no longer be able to continue outdoor dining beyond Nov. 14, as the city will need to be prepared for sidewalk and street snow removal. These grants can be used to pay for dividers or other materials that will help restaurants increase their indoor seating capacity,” Chamber of Commerce President Tim Sink said in a prepared statement.
The city council appropriated $15,000 for this grant program from money allocated to the annual fireworks display, which was canceled due to the pandemic. The chamber will administer the grants. Funding is limited and open to both chamber members and non-members.
The news comes even as several Concord restaurants are among a number in the state where COVID-infected diners have led the Department of Health and Human Services to warn about potential community spread of the virus.
To apply for a grant, Concord restaurants should fill out the online Concord Restaurant Grant Program submission form on the Concord Chamber website. The deadline to apply is Nov. 20. Matching funds are encouraged but not required.
Any questions can be directed to Tim Sink, Chamber president, at 224-2508 or via email.