James Beard Foundation Opens Applications to Fund BIPOC Businesses

time immemorial, the James Beard Foundation is renowned for spotlighting the brightest and the most outstanding food industry businesses.

Last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the organization announced its plan to launch a new grant initiative fund for indigenous and black-owned businesses. The move came after food and drinks businesses closed shop due to the novel coronavirus.

The James Beard Investment Fund, in partnership with its newly formed campaign, the Open For Goodwill, distribute investment funds across the country.

The investment would help the independent restaurant industry that suffered during the pandemic to recover.

It's now official that the foundation opened up applications worth $15,000to the food and beverage businesses majorly owned by indigenous and black people.

In a statement, James Beard's Foundation vice president Colleen Vincent said, "The new initiative is the organization's ongoing commitment to help black and indigenous individuals in the F&B industry, not just during the pandemic, but for good."

Applications for the first round of funds, which offers 18 grants total and one for each of three business kinds across six areas, opened on January 11 at 3 pm ET. The application process will close on January 22 at 3 pm ET.

The leadership committee mandated to oversee the funds' distribution includes celebrity chef Carla Hall, Cheryl Day, and Sean Sherman.

For more information regarding the application, click here