15 August 2024

By KAREN VELIE

While many restaurants have closed in recent years, 16 Central Coast restaurant owners recently received grants to help fund their businesses. The California Restaurant Foundation awarded $5,000 grants to eight independent restaurants in San Luis Obispo County, five in Santa Barbara County and seven in Ventura County.

Award winners in SLO County include A-Town Diner in Atascadero, Basil Restaurant in Paso Robles, The Porch in Santa Margarita and 1865 Craft House in San Luis Obispo. Winners in Santa Barbara County include Clean Slate Wine Bar in Solvang and Brass Bear Brewing and Bistro in Santa Barbara.

The grants were funded by donations from PG&E, SoCalGas and San Diego Gas and Electric.

The foundation, a nonprofit that invests in and supports California restaurants and their workforce, has awarded 278 restaurants with $5,000 grants in 2024.

The $5,000 grants are intended as an investment in the long-term health of independent restaurants in California and can be used for equipment and technology upgrades, unforeseen hardships, employee retention bonuses and employee training. Since the Resilience Fund’s inception in 2021, the Fund has provided financial support to more than 1,600 independent restaurants across California.