Maximiliano Waicman and Gladys Arneri, Milanezza, Miami FL >
Are you a restaurant with at least 3 years in business? Are you committed to building a safe and equitable workplace for your employees?
If so, you may qualify for a loan up to $50,000 at 0% interest and only $25 monthly payments for the first 12 months.
Open to applicants in all 50 states.
After completing our online application, please be sure to complete the required Restaurant Futures financial questionnaire. If you pass both the online application and the questionnaire, we will notify you via email if your application is selected for final review.
“Working with the Ascendus team on the Restaurant Futures loan application was a delightful experience. The process was easy, automated, and extremely quick: I would strongly recommend them to any small business.”
Davide Macchi, Owner of Due Cucina
Ascendus and RWCF have identified priority states with high concentrations of restaurant workers that have been hard-hit by shutdowns and permanent restaurant closures.
In order to qualify, your business must be:
Qualified loan applicants will be asked, before a loan is granted, to consider their business operations on four dimensions and which they aim to improve upon going forward:
Successful loan applicants will not need to demonstrate perfect workplaces, but rather, an interest in identifying areas for improvement and a willingness to share their challenges. If your loan is approved, a representative from Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation will reach out to connect and learn more about your business and the changes you hope to make at your restaurant. Open to applicants in all 50 states.
COVID-19 has drastically changed the food & beverage industry and prospects for people who make their living in it.
In collaboration with the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation (RWCF), we are launching a program that will provide 0% loans to restaurants committed to creating a safe, positive, and just work environment for their employees.
Read the press release
Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation (RWCF) is an advocacy and action nonprofit created by and for restaurant workers. RWCF was founded in 2018 to advocate for – and raise funds for other nonprofits working toward – gender equity, racial justice, fair wages, and healthy work environments in the restaurant industry.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, RWCF launched the Restaurant Workers COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund, which has raised over $7 million. Half of the fund is dedicated to direct financial assistance to vulnerable workers, one quarter to nonprofits providing crisis relief services like food and legal counsel, and the final quarter is for this zero-interest loan program to help restaurants to restart with more pro-worker frameworks in mind.
To learn more about the changes we hope to see in the industry, tune into RWCF’s IGTV channel to watch videos on addressing mental health and addiction in the workplace, fostering a culture of listening, and other important topics.
For more information, please visit www.RestaurantWorkersCF.org.
We have partnered with RWCF to distribute at least $1.2 million in 0% loans to restaurants that provide information about their policies and on wages, gender equity, racial justice, immigrant fair treatment and healthy workplaces, as well as how they aim to improve over the course of the loan period.
While $1.2 million is a good start, it’s only a drop in the bucket compared to the tremendous need. Please consider making a donation to support expanding this program to help restaurants survive while treating their workers with respect and dignity.
Because of Ascendus we were able to continue operations. Ascendus gave us an affordable interest rate, allowed us to offer competitive pay packages, and overall, helped us grow our business.
I started off with a food truck. Now I have two restaurants and another on the way. All because Ascendus gave me that first loan.
Ascendus gave me resources, helped me build credit, and helped me prove that I could pay back a loan.