Lifestyle
American Express and the International Downtown Association Foundation Honor 97 International Restaurants Making a Positive Impact in Local Communities with over $1.4M in Grants
American Express and the International Downtown Association Foundation today announced the 2025 grantees of the Backing International Small Restaurants grant program, an initiative that honors restaurants that have demonstrated a positive impact in their communities. Now in its fourth year, the initiative will award over $1.4 million to 97 small and independently owned restaurants across 14 cities in the UK, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Spain, and France. Since its launch in 20
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[{"type":"text","content":"Backing International Small Restaurants Grant Program ","length":53,"tagName":"p","attribs":{}},{"type":"text","content":"MEDIA KIT HERE","length":14,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- American Express and the International Downtown Association Foundation today announced the 2025 grantees of the Backing International Small Restaurants grant program, an initiative that honors restaurants that have demonstrated a positive impact in their communities. Now in its fourth year, the initiative will award over $1.4 million to 97 small and independently owned restaurants across 14 cities in the UK, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Spain, and France. Since its launch in 2022, the program has supported 237 restaurants with over $3.2 million in funding.","length":620,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"image","alt":"American Express (PRNewsfoto/American Express)","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"American Express (PRNewsfoto/American Express)","className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":400,"height":400,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/25fa3348d831cac2d9d721ccb8fa08fa"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GjhxCClPArwfL_BiDcaJ.Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTcwNTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/25fa3348d831cac2d9d721ccb8fa08fa","width":400,"height":400}},"href":"https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2724072/American_Express_Logo.html","hrefExternal":true,"rel":"nofollow"},{"type":"text","content":"This year's 97 grantees are more than places to eat—they're crossroads where communities connect through food, art, and shared experiences. From a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in Paris making live music accessible to all, to a vibrant art-themed café in Mexico City offering book clubs and exhibition space, these small businesses foster dialogue and connection across communities. Led by passionate and resilient owners, the grants will help modernize dining spaces, improve kitchen operations, and enhance digital tools, empowering them to grow, adapt, and thrive while fueling local economies and enriching the soul of their cities.","length":648,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Freims is one of the 2025 grantees of the Backing International Small Restaurants program. Founded in 2016 in Mexico Cit...