Domino’s Pizza Grants Go Heavy on Asphalt To Repair U.S. Roadways, One Pothole At A Time
The world’s largest pizza company has come up with a new initiative that might seem anything but cheesy to municipalities across the United States.
Domino’s is offering grants to towns to help fill their “cracks, bumps and potholes” and make their roadways smoother. The Michigan-based pizza maker said the program was started to protect carryout orders from roads that are in poor condition and in need of repairs. Grants for roads can be found here.
“We can’t stand by and let your cheese slide to one side, your toppings get untopped or your boxes get flipped,” the initiative, dubbed “Paving for Pizza,” boasts. “So, we’re helping to pave towns across the country to save your pizza from these bad roads.”
Domino’s “Paving for Pizza” grants have already been awarded to Bartonville, Texas; Milford, Dela.; Athens, Ga.; and Burbank, Calif. In Milford, City Manager Eric Norenberg said Dominos grants helped fix 40 potholes in 10 hours. Other towns will be considered for grants based on customer nominations.
Potholes cause millions of dollars in vehicle damage, a large portion of highway deaths, and ongoing headaches for motorists and municipalities. But, a good portion of the nation’s major roadways is beyond potholes. They are in such poor condition that many sections of interstates, freeways and major arterial roadways need to be completely rebuilt.
Domino’s is not the first fast-food chain to attempt this approach. In 2009, Kentucky Fried Chicken selected five American towns to receive between $3,000 and $5,000 to fix potholes.
Libby Hikind, founder and CEO of GrantWatch.com, said millions of dollars in grants are available for projects that address the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. But, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the U.S. would need to spend $4.5 trillion by 2025 to fix its ailing infrastructure; $2 trillion of that is for roads and streets alone.
The Trump administration has promised nearly $1.5 billion in grants to help rebuild highways, bridges and railroads around the country. However, those proposals are likely to be delayed until after the midterm elections.
In the meantime, Domino’s is determined to save a pizza, one pothole at a time.
Municipalities, nonprofits, small businesses, entrepreneurs and concerned citizens frustrated by the often-overwhelming process involved with searching for grants to support civic initiatives including infrastructure projects can identify infrastructure grants that are easy to read and simple to comprehend at GrantWatch.com. Sign-up to receive the weekly GrantWatch newsletter which features geographic-specific funding opportunities.
About the Author: Staff Writer for GrantWatch.com