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Amherst Seeks To Extend Outdoor Dining Season With 50 Mobile Heaters

Amherst is seeking to extend the outdoor dining season with the purchase of 50 mobile heaters.

Downtown Amherst

Downtown Amherst

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons: John Phelan

As the weather turns cooler and indoor dining is still tightly restricted due to COVID-19, restaurants are looking for ways to keep the alfresco season going.

Amherst town officials said they are seeking a $200,000 Shared Streets grant and some of that money would be used to purchase 20 outdoor heaters at about $2,000 each, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported.

The Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) director said the organization is looking into purchasing 30 outdoor heaters for area restaurants.

As a college town, Amherst restaurants have been particularly hit hard by the COVID-19 recession. With fewer students and staff on the town’s three college campuses - UMass, Amherst and Hampshire colleges - there are fewer people to dine in the eateries.

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