CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Members of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce and Citrus Heights Mayor Steve Miller were on hand Thursday morning, August 12 to present the Chamber’s first $1,000 COVID business relief check to the franchisee and staff of the El Pollo Loco quick-serve restaurant at 7600 Greenback Lane.

“I’m grateful to the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce for being chosen to receive this relief check,” said business owner Mohammad Sattar. The restaurant opened in the city in September 2005.

El Pollo Loco was forced to close its inside dining area in keeping with the state health mandate and cut the number of kitchen and front counter staff early in the pandemic. The restaurant is now open for in-person dining and masks are required for inside food service, Sattar said.

Sattar learned of the Chamber’s COVID relief grant when he obtained a supply of surplus N-95 face masks from the Chamber for his staff and customers which made them available to local businesses in the city.

“The grant monies will be put to good use to individually recognize our employees for their hard work during the pandemic, and to provide additional employee benefits,” he said. Sattar said his restaurant is also looking to hire more employees as its sales improve.

Small businesses with fewer than (20) employees and a physical location within the city limits of Citrus Heights are eligible to apply for the Chamber’s COVID-Relief Grant, according to Diane Ebbitt-Riehle, executive director of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce. The individual amount of the grants which can be awarded will vary between $500 and $1,000, she said.

The Chamber began accepting applications for its COVID relief grants on July 1. Between 6-7 applications, many from non-Chamber members were received by the end of July, Ebbitt-Riehle said.

“We’re letting businesses in Citrus Heights know that our COVID relief grant application process remains open to eligible businesses who apply,” she said. “Providing these relief grants to local businesses is an important mission of our Chamber.”

There are no specific stipulations on what Chamber COVID grant monies given may be used for, Ebbitt-Riehle said.

In all, the membership of the Citrus Heights Chamber has budgeted some $18,000 to support its ongoing COVID relief business grant program.

“We anticipate that the Chamber could give out another 10 such awards if the applications are submitted,” she said. The Chamber also intends to reach out to Citrus Heights-based nonprofits who may also be in need.

El Pollo Loco, Inc. was founded in Los Angeles in 1980. When real food meets real fire, the result is great flame-broiled chicken which has kept Citrus Heights El Pollo Loco regular customers coming back again and again.

Whole chickens, slowly marinated in a special recipe of herbs, spices, fruit juices and garlic and fire-grilled are hand cut into a variety of favorite Mexican entrees.

Popular El Pollo Loco favorites include chicken burritos, chicken quesadillas, tacos al carbon, and EPL's signature dish, the Pollo Bowl. Fresh guacamole, salsas and dressings are handmade at the Citrus Heights restaurant daily.

For more information on how to apply for the Chamber’s COVID-Relief Grant, email: [email protected] or call the Citrus Heights Chamber office at 916-257-4421.