Program focuses on digital improvements, industry and community partner collaboration
Bap and Chicken owner John Gleason was looking for support.
Like so many, Gleason was trying to navigate running a restaurant during a global pandemic. He felt he was on a good track and found reassurance when he joined the Saint Paul Restaurant Resiliency Program. The program, a collaboration between the City of Saint Paul and nonprofit NCXT, was created to assist restaurants with revenue-generation options and establishing stability.
“Without that support [from the Restaurant Resiliency Program], I would not have had the knowledge of the opportunities that were available,” Gleason said.
In addition to Bap and Chicken, Phase 1 of the program included East Side Thai, Lake Monster Brewing, Shish Mediterranean and many others.
Now, Saint Paul is launching Phase 2 of the Restaurant Resiliency Program, and all restaurant operators and industry stakeholders located within the city are welcomed to register and take part. Restaurant operators should complete an online assessment on the NCXT website.
The program will focus on implementation and enhancing online ordering and delivery solutions, achieving digital marketing effectiveness and collaborating with industry and community partners.
“Saint Paul restaurants put everything on the line last year. The challenges were nearly insurmountable, and they still are,” NCXT President and Founding Partner Jonathan Banks said. “I am ecstatic about this program’s ability to give restaurants the digital boost needed to make it through winter, and this pandemic. I look forward to seeing a fully digitized restaurant industry in Saint Paul, very soon.”
The program will create cohorts of restaurants with similar needs, connect them with resources and facilitate information sessions and stakeholder reports.
An Industry partner orientation session for those interested in learning more on how they can support Saint Paul restaurants through this project is being offered Friday, Jan. 22. Industry partners can register for an orientation session here.