City Seeking Restaurants to Participate in Senior Meal Program
(Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022) – Mayor Malik D. Evans today announced that the City is seeking up to thirty restaurants to participate in its Senior Meal Program to provide free meal delivery to city seniors with transportation challenges.
“The Senior Meal Program is beneficial to both the seniors and the restaurants of the city of Rochester,” said Mayor Evans. “We want to continue enhancing the safety and well-being of our seniors by giving them the comfort and ease of warm and healthy meals delivered to their homes.”
The City’s Department of Neighborhood and Business Development will award Restaurant Grants of up to $50,000 to support selected restaurants in each quadrant of the city that agree to prepare and deliver free meals to area seniors for a one-year period. The grants may be extended for up to three years contingent upon City Council approval each year.
The initial Phases I and II of the program were highly successful, with 26 businesses that delivering close to 43,000 free meals to city seniors age 55 and above who were unable to travel or frequent restaurants due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City is contracting with ABVI - Goodwill Industries of Greater Rochester, Inc. and its 211/LIFE LINE program to facilitate enrollment services for seniors. Selected restaurants will coordinate with ABVI—Goodwill to provide and deliver the free meals at designated dates and times. Restaurants can use third-party delivery companies to support their operations.
The grants will be used by selected restaurants as working capital to offset the operational expenses associated with the program. Funding for the program is provided through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
To receive a grant, restaurants must operate within the City of Rochester and be in good standing with all regulatory requirements, including zoning codes, taxes and fees, insurance and fair hiring practices.
For complete details on restaurant eligibility requirements, required forms and to download an application, visit www.cityofrochester.gov/restaurantgrants. Applications and all associated documentation must be emailed to Daisy Algarin, Director of the City’s Neighborhood Service Centers at Daisy.Algarin@cityofrochester.gov by 5 p.m. on Monday, January 17, 2022.
For more information, contact Daisy Algarin at the email above or at (585) 428-7711 or (585) 698-6643.