Fredericksburg Offering Grants To Restaurants For Outdoor Dining

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The city of Fredericksburg has launched a grant program to help restaurants purchase items needed to extend their outdoor dining season during the coronavirus crisis. The new program will allow restaurants to apply for grants of up to $2,000 each to help purchase heaters and other equipment to keep customers warm.

After the state allowed restaurants to reopen their dining rooms, many customers have felt more comfortable dining outside due to the coronavirus. Restaurants have responded by expanding their outdoor dining areas, and many have been looking for ways to extend the season as the weather turns colder.

Restaurants that choose to purchase a heating device for outdoor dining need to get it approved by the Fredericksburg Fire Marshal’s Office. The heating device also must be purchased by the restaurant before any grant funds will be disbursed.

The $50,000 grant program is funded by a portion of Fredericksburg's Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, allocation. Grants will be made on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are gone.

Fredericksburg has provided information about the outdoor dining program and the grant application on its website.

To be eligible, businesses must meet each of the following criteria.

• Have one or more physical locations in the city of Fredericksburg.
• Be current on all city tax obligations prior to March 1, fully permitted and currently open for business.
• Have been in business in the city of Fredericksburg with all appropriate permits and licenses.
• Have documented costs of business interruption caused by COVID-19 required closures (not already funded in the city of Fredericksburg’s small business grants).
• Be a for-profit business.
• Complete an application form, certify that all answers are true and accurate, and agree to the application’s terms and conditions.

Meanwhile, Fredericksburg also plans to convert a number of two-hour parking spaces in the downtown commercial district to 15-minute spaces for curbside pickup. The city plans to provide more details about the curbside pickup program in the coming weeks.