Cambridge Announces $2.5 Million Restaurant and Nightlife Relief Grant Program

The City of Cambridge announced a new Restaurant and Nightlife Relief Grant program today which will award $2,500,000 to eligible Cambridge venues.

These grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will provide relief to local, non-franchise cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues (e.g. movie theaters, performance venues, galleries) heavily impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants and entertainment venues citywide will be able to apply for grant awards of $10,000 for allowable business expenses such as payroll, rent, personal protective equipment, utilities, goods and equipment, and outdoor dining infrastructure. Applications will be accepted from February 3 through February 28, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. and are available at www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/business.

“The uncertainty of the last two years has made operations difficult for restaurants and nightlife venues, and I am glad we are able to provide some relief at this pivotal time of the pandemic,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. “These grants, which will prioritize some of our hardest hit businesses, will help restaurants and nightlife venues that have a long road to recovery.”

The Restaurant and Nightlife Relief grants will be awarded based on criteria which will prioritize businesses owned by people of color, women, and other historically marginalized groups, businesses with fewer than 10 employees, and businesses that have seen a severe decrease in sales from pre-pandemic levels.

“Cambridge’s restaurants and nightlife venues are a vital part of our community and these sectors have been among the hardest hit by this pandemic,” said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “Their economic recovery is critical to our city and I’m proud to launch this new grant program that builds upon the $4,800,000 in relief funds that the City of Cambridge has awarded to local businesses since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The City anticipates funding an additional $2,500,000 in small business relief grants for other sectors impacted by the pandemic later this year.

For more information about eligibility, exclusions, and the application for these programs, please visit www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/business.

Those with questions or in need of assistance can call 617-349-4654 or email smallbizgrants@cambridgema.gov. Translation and interpretation services are available upon request.