Wicked Bao receives American Express grant

Media Release
March 18, 2022

American Express, in partnership with Main Street America, announced that it awarded $5,000 grants to 75 small businesses across 24 states (plus D.C.), including a recipient in Fernandina Beach, Florida. The Inclusive Backing grant program is a year-round grantmaking program established by American Express and Main Street America to help underrepresented small business owners that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic recover and grow.

The Wicked Bao restaurant is one of the recipients of the $5,000 grants that were given to support small business owners with disabilities and/or those who identify as Asian, Asian American and/or Pacific Islander. As you look to celebrate small businesses in your area, I’d love to connect you with the grant recipient, Ming-Yu Wu, who can speak about their business journeys and how the Inclusive Backing grant has helped their business advance.

In addition, we are announcing that our next Inclusive Backing grant program is opening today to help U.S. small business owners who identify as women, nonbinary people, and Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces as they continue to navigate the impacts of the pandemic. Eligible small business owners can apply for a $5,000 grant here starting today.

The Inclusive Backing grant program is building on American Express’ ongoing “Backing Small” initiative to provide economically vulnerable small businesses with financial support and other resources to address their critical needs and challenges. Additional grant programs include the Coalition to Back Black Businesses and Backing Historic Small Restaurants.