Rocky Mount introduces new grant to help local restaurants winterize outdoor dining areas

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. (WFXR) — The Rocky Mount Town Council is rolling out a “Winter Warmer” grant that will help businesses offset expenses related to keeping new outdoor dining spaces warm and welcoming for customers during the winter months.

The new grant, open to any town restaurant, provides a 50% reimbursable matching grant up to $5,000 for any type of winterizing measures.

Qualifying expenses include any type of shelter, awning, furniture, signage, fencing, and related construction costs for these outdoor areas. Funding for this grant will come from the Town’s CARES Act funding provided by the federal government to localities to assist in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Town’s ability to be flexible in our zoning code and creative in the use of our CARES Act funding during these unusual times is imperative to the survival of many of our local restaurants. As Town Council has shown all year, we want to aid our businesses in any way we can.”
Beth Simms, Economic Development Director

Businesses interested in participating in the program can visit www.rockymountva.org/economic-development or Rocky Mount Town office at 345 Donald Avenue for an application.