The 2023 AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund
The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is designed to benefit Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-owned restaurants across the country. With the industry facing ongoing economic challenges, the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is available to help under-resourced restaurants respond to supply chain disruptions, increased inventory costs, workforce development, and safety for their employees.
The funding will allow AAPI restaurateurs to take their business to the next level through development ideas such as infrastructure improvements, e-commerce and technology, employee benefits, and operations streamlining. Ultimately, this will help AAPI entrepreneurs to scale their businesses, secure their futures, and also give back to the life of their neighborhoods by fostering safe and enjoyable places to gather.
With over $4 million in funding awarded to nearly 270 AAPI businesses over the past 2 years, the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund continues to uplift the hard work and dedication of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander restaurant owners. The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund.
Deadline extended to Sept 4
Timeline
Applications Open: August 14 - September 4, 2023 or if we reach 2000 applications, whichever comes first
Application Review: August - September 2023
Notification of Results: Late September/Early October 2023
*Dates are subject to change.
You can preview the application here. Please note that applications will only be accepted through the application portal once it opens on August 14.
Eligibility Requirements
The restaurant must be Asian American/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian majority-owned (at least 51%);
Must be based in the United States; (50 states, D.C., and PR)
Must be currently operational; (An exception will be made for businesses affected by the Maui wildfires)
Must be a for-profit business;
Must show proof of their primary licensed activity as “the preparation and serving of food”;
Operates in a single location;
Cannot be a franchise;
Must demonstrate financial need;
Funds must be used towards growth and expansion of the business;
Must demonstrate community impact (i.e. culture/community, hiring, charitable/philanthropic efforts, etc.);
For grand prize finalists, you must be able to attend our Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV on October 12-13. (Flight vouchers and hotel accommodations will be provided via National ACE)
Frequently Asked Questions
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The application closes at 11:59PM on September 4, 2023 or if we reach 2,000 applications, whichever comes first.. Late applications will not be accepted. If you experience any technical difficulties with Submittable, please contact the Submitter Resource Center immediately. National ACE cannot assist with technical issues.
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No, you do not need to be a U.S. citizen to apply.
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Yes, a Submittable account is required to apply, and free to create.
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Grant recipients will be announced in October 2023 and will be contacted for next steps shortly after.
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If you are chosen as a grant recipient, please be prepared to share your testimony on how the funding helped your business.
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After applications are screened for completeness and eligibility, they will be reviewed by a panel of judges.
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A Certificate of Good Standing simply indicates that the entity has filed all reports and paid the necessary fees with the Secretary of State's office. It serves as proof, or evidence, that the entity exists and is authorized to transact business in the state.
You can get a certificate of good standing from the business filing agency in your state. In many cases, this is your secretary of state office (or one of its subdivisions). However in some cases, you'll need to find the equivalent agency that's responsible for filing entities and maintaining state records. If you are having trouble finding it, certificates of good standing are sometimes also known as certificates of status, certificates of existence, or certificates of compliance. It may be called something different depending on the state your business is registered in.
If you don't have one at the moment, you can submit a document that shows that you have applied for one and are waiting for your state to get back to you. If you are a sole proprietor, you can submit a document saying that you are a sole proprietor and don't need a certificate of good standing.
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Due to the high volume of grant proposals we receive, we may not be able to respond to individual requests for updates. However, you can check at any time on the status of your application via Submittable.
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We will notify all applicants about the status of their submission in October via the email provided in your application. Be sure to check your email regularly, including your junk folders. Email updates to all applicants will come from Submittable. If someone assisted you in the physical completion of the application form, please be sure to include their email address when asked. This will ensure they are able to receive a copy of the status email as well. .
Grant recipients will receive next steps from info@nationalace.org. Failure to reply promptly to next steps may result in disqualification from the grant program.
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No, grant funds do not need to be repaid. However, all taxes associated with the acceptance and/or uses of cash awarded are the sole responsibility of the individual grantee. Cash awarded will be reported by National ACE Foundation to the IRS as National ACE Foundation deems necessary according to applicable law. It is further the policy of National ACE Foundation that all grantees be advised to consult with their own tax professionals and/or legal counsel to ascertain the tax impact of the cash awards.
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For grant-related questions, please contact info@nationalace.org.
For technical assistance, please view the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support.
