Lifestyle
American Express and the International Downtown Association Foundation Honour 20 Restaurants in Toronto and Montreal Making a Positive Impact in Local Communities
American Express and the International Downtown Association Foundation today announced the 20 grantees of the 2025 Backing International Small Restaurants program in Canada, an initiative that honours restaurants that have demonstrated a positive impact in their local communities. Globally, the initiative will award over US $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.
About this update from American Express Company
[{"type":"text","content":"The Backing International Small Restaurants program provides grant funding to standout small and independently owned restaurants that are committed to making a positive impact in their local community. Each restaurant will receive a grant of $20,000 CAD for critical improvements to their business, supporting long-term growth.","length":327,"tagName":"p","attribs":{}},{"type":"text","content":"MEDIA: Images","length":13,"tagName":"p","attribs":{}},{"type":"text","content":"TORONTO and MONTREAL, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- American Express and the International Downtown Association Foundation today announced the 20 grantees of the 2025 Backing International Small Restaurants program in Canada, an initiative that honours restaurants that have demonstrated a positive impact in their local communities. Globally, the initiative will award over US $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.","length":531,"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/cnwgroup.com/25fa3348d831cac2d9d721ccb8fa08fa"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ILhCYS79J6FSueyA0X0Ifw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTcwNTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/cnwgroup.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 grantees are more than places to eat—they're crossroads where communities connect through food, art, and shared experiences. 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":398,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Nicaroma Café is one of the 2025 Canadian grantees. Located in the heart of Oakwood Village in Toronto, it's a vibrant family-run spot serving Nicaraguan coffee, breakfast, ...