Golden Valley Community Foundation Creates Map to Help Local Restaurants
As restaurants try to weather the storm caused by the novel coronavirus, a Golden Valley organization is doing what it can to lend a helping hand.
The Golden Valley Community Foundation (GVCF) has put together a map showing the precise locations of dozens of restaurants in the area. Unlike other online maps, the GVCF’s map is tailored specifically to Golden Valley, Crystal, New Hope, Robbinsdale and St. Louis Park.
“Restaurants are a big part of society, and most of them are independently-owned by individuals, families, that sort of thing,” said Dean Penk, chairman of the GVCF. “And they keep a lot of people employed.”
Penk hopes the map can help keep all of those people employed.
“This is just another way for us to be able to help the businesses keep running,” he said.
A screen shot of the restaurant map compiled by the GVCF.
The broad goal of the GVCF is to “improve the quality of life in a given area,” and assisting local businesses is part of that mission.
However, community foundations, can’t provide businesses with any direct financial assistance. So instead, creating the map is their way to support local restaurants by helping to direct Golden Valley residents to their locations.
EasyMapMaker, the mapping company GVCF used to compile the data, even waived the $22 monthly fee to help with this project.
Anyone who goes to the GVCF map will see the restaurant’s name, address, phone number and a streetview panorama.
“It makes it easier for people to figure out, if they don’t know what restaurants are available, that this is a source for them,” Penk said. “I’m hoping that there’s a potential that they’ll think more about restaurants as businesses and family-owned, and treat themselves and help somebody else.”
Weathering the storm
With many restaurants struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic effectively prevented people from being able to dine-in, Penk’s hope is that their map will provide some assistance to help them get through this period.
“What I really want to do is make sure we can help organizations now so that they actually have the opportunity to come out on the other side and still remain part of the community,” Penk said. “Whatever the other side might be.”
If you’d like to add a restaurant to the Golden Valley Community Foundation’s map, you can do so by sending an email to info@gvcfoundation.org.
