Small restaurant and café owners in the Greater Sydney and Greater Melbourne can now apply for grants of $23,000 through the American Express Backing International Small Restaurants program.
This year, the program is offering 15 grants to eligible business owners.
Sue and Dale Messina of Melbourne’s Bojak Brewing were among Australia’s 13 grant recipients in 2024. Sue says the grant helped them afford improvements they otherwise couldn’t have made.
“We installed permanent gas heaters in the outdoor beer garden, making it a perfect year-round spot for families and beer lovers alike,” says Sue.
“The grant also enabled us to invest in new kitchen flooring and better equipment like a new density meter to provide more precise measurements and streamline the brewing process, as well as a carton box-taper to improve efficiency when packaging beer.”
To be eligible, restaurants must be located in Sydney or Melbourne, and be currently open for business, in operation for more than one year, and have a brick and mortar location or storefront. They must also be a small and independently-owned restaurant, café, bar or pub with food offering; not part of a franchise with more than 5 locations; and have a 2024 annual revenue below market-specific thresholds. More FAQs are available here.
“Independent restaurants are often at the heart of our villages and communities – bringing people together, shaping local culture, and fueling the economy,” says Vice President of Global Merchant Network Services for American Express Australia and New Zealand, Robert Tedesco.
This year, the grants will extend to New Zealand for the first time.
“We’re proud to expand this program even further for its fourth year in 2025, now reaching Auckland for the first time, alongside Sydney and Melbourne. These cities are home to some of the most dynamic and diverse dining scenes in the world, driven by passionate chefs, restaurateurs, and family-run businesses. These grants will help them grow, innovate, and continue serving their communities,” adds Tedesco.
“This grant program provides critical support for small, independent restaurants – helping them stay resilient, celebrate culture, and continue serving up the flavours and hospitality that make our main streets unique,” says program partner Mainstreet Australia President Georgina Pikoulas.
The program delivers $1.45 million USD in funding to 100 restaurants globally so they can make critical improvements such as enhancing digital abilities, refreshing dining spaces, and improving kitchen operations.
Applications for the Backing International Small Restaurants program are now open and close on 1 July.
