The California Restaurant Foundation has awarded $5,000 grants to 34 independent restaurants in the region.
The foundation, a nonprofit organization that invests in and supports California restaurants and their workforce, presented a total of 278 awards as part of its fourth consecutive distribution from the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund.
The grants were made possible by donations from SoCalGas, the PG&E Corporation Foundation and San Diego Gas and Electric, all three of which have contributed to the fund since 2021.
Recipients can use the $5,000 to upgrade equipment and technology, cover unforeseen hardships, provide employee retention bonuses and provide training, all of which allow independent restaurant owners and caterers to invest in the longevity of their business.
“Together, we have proudly sustained the Resilience Fund over the past four years, ensuring that California’s independent restaurant owners and caterers remain an important and vibrant part of our state’s culinary landscape and economy for years to come,” said Alycia Harshfield, executive director of the foundation.
Of the award-winning restaurants, 154 are in the Pacific Gas and Electric service area, 90 are in the SoCalGas region, and 34 are in the SDG&E area.
Virut Tilakamonkul, owner of Thotsakan Thai and Vegetarian Cuisine in downtown San Diego, said the grant provides the restaurant with “much-needed financial relief.”
“The Resilience Fund grant has been a blessing for us. The generous financial support has enabled us to upgrade our kitchen equipment to ensure we maintain the highest standards of food quality and safety,” said Tilakamonkul.
88 percent of the recipients are individual businesses that have been in business for an average of 10 years. It is noteworthy that 76 percent of the recipients are women, while 73 percent are people of color.
More than 70% of this year’s recipients plan to use the $5,000 grants for kitchen appliances or technology improvements, and 17% will use the funds for employee retention bonuses.
The Resilience Fund has provided financial assistance to over 1,600 independent restaurants and catering businesses across California. To qualify, restaurants and catering businesses had to have fewer than five locations and revenue of less than $3 million.
