WORCESTER, Mass. - The city of Worcester reimbursed dozens of restaurants for setting up outdoor dining this year. 

Several restaurants shifted their operations outdoors at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to help better accommodate customers. 

On Monday, city leaders, along with its partners UniBank, Fidelity Bank and Worcester Business Development Corporation, reimbursed restaurants $2,000 through the city's Outdoor Dining grant program.

Café Reyes was one of the 31 businesses to receive funding. 

"It allowed us to expand our outdoor dining. We refinished the area with more seating and let us stay open throughout the pandemic, “ Aaron Mendel, executive director of Latin American Health Alliance, the organization that runs Cafe Reyes. 

According to the city, 52% of the grantees are women-owned and 52% are minority-owned.

The city will present two more reimbursements on Wednesday to Chioda's Trattoria on Franklin Street and Woo Bar and Grill on Shrewsbury Street.