Orange County allocates $1 million to expand outdoor dining capacity

Orange County’s restaurants will soon be eligible to apply for a $1,000 grant through the OC Restaurant Outdoor Dining Grant program to implement or expand outdoor dining capacity.

During today’s Board Meeting, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported a $1 million plan authored by Vice Chairman Andrew Do, First District, and Supervisor Don Wagner, Third District, to help Orange County restaurants expand and improve their outdoor dining as the County moves to the State’s most restrictive tier.

“The pandemic has forced restaurant owners to get creative to keep their businesses open,” said Vice Chairman Do. “Outdoor dining has served as a crucial tool for many restaurants across Orange County to stay afloat. As Orange County moved back to the Purple Tier yesterday, the state’s most restrictive tier, this grant program will help those restaurants stay open for businesses this winter while also making sure they are adhering to California Public Health Officials’ guidance to keep their customers safe.”

The Restaurant Outdoor Dining Grant program, which is funded with federal CARES Act funding, will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Eligible expenses solely include tents/canopies, heaters/warmers, and lighting. Purchases must be made between November 16 through December 23.

For more information, please visit the Orange County Community Resources agency’s website. The application portal will go live next week.

Orange County Vice Chairman Andrew Do represents the First District communities of Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, Fountain Valley, and Midway City. In his second term, Vice Chairman Do has advocated for health and safety-based COVID-19 response planning, reformed Orange County’s mental health services, expanded access to health care, and led efforts to combat homelessness. Supervisor Andrew Do was one of the first officials in the state to propose a face covering mandate.