WORCESTER, Mass. - The City of Worcester launched a website for its Outdoor Dining Grant Program on Monday.

As Spectrum News 1 reported on Thursday, April 1, Worcester's License Commission unanimously approved the extension of the City's Temporary Outdoor Dining Program until Jan. 1, 2022.

A $50,000 grant program was announced during Thursday's COVID-19 media briefing to support qualified restaurants with up to $2,000 to expand their outdoor dining offerings with more chairs, tables and outdoor heating equipment.

The programs offers a streamlined approval process for restaurants to conduct outdoor dining and allows for outdoor dining on a temporary basis on a larger scale than is permitted under normal conditions.

Applications are now being accepted through Friday, April 16 for the Outdoor Dining Grant Program. Outdoor dining grant applications are available here: worcesterma.gov/coronavirus/business. 

Restaurant owners can apply for a temporary outdoor dining permit here:  http://worcesterma.gov/.../temporary-outdoor-dining-program.