Outdoor Dining Grant Program in the United States

The Outdoor Dining Grant Program provides grant funding to business district supporting organizations or community development corporations in the City of Pittsburgh to allocate towards outdoor infrastructure that allows restaurant activity to occur safely outdoors in preventing or mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

The Outdoor Dining Grant Program is funded through an allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure.

Parameters of the Grant

• Tier 1 $0-30,000 – no match
• Tier 2 $30,000-60,000 – 10% match
• Tier 3 $60,000-90,000 – 20% match

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include:

• Organization can utilize funding to support their business district in allowing outdoor dining to occur outdoors on a permanent scale to promote economic activity following the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Funds can be utilized to build-out infrastructure for outdoor dining along the public right of way and private property where applicable, with the purpose of preventing or mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• Organization can utilize funding to provide businesses smaller grants at their discretion.
• Street closure, parking space utilization and sidewalk space are all eligible spaces for outdoor dining infrastructure to be established through this funding.
• Design/Architect fees can be paid for through this grant.
• Organizations that represent business districts in the City of Pittsburgh are welcome to be creative in submitting their proposed activities and are encouraged to contact URA staff prior to submitting their application to discuss proposed use of funds.
• Businesses supported through this grant program must have been in existence prior to the COVID-19. pandemic.

Eligibility Criteria

• Community organizations whose mission is to support small businesses, enhance neighborhood business districts, community development, or other relevant activity located within the City of Pittsburgh.
• Businesses that are supported through this grant must have been in operation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, visit URA.