Nirvana Soul in Santa Clara. Photo courtesy of California Restaurant Foundation

NORTHEN CALIFORNIA (MPG) – The California Restaurant Foundation (CRF), a nonprofit focused on investing in and empowering California restaurants and their workforce, has launched its fifth annual Restaurants Care® Resilience Fund to provide critical financial assistance to independent restaurants across California. With the generous support of The PG&E Corporation Foundation (The PG&E Foundation) and SoCalGas, the 2025 Resilience Fund will distribute $5,000 grants to 231 independent restaurants in select counties throughout California, totaling $1,155,000 in relief.

 

"The Resilience Fund was born out of a deep commitment to California’s independent restaurants and the passionate people behind them who pour their hearts into every meal they serve," said Alycia Harshfield, President of CRF. "This grant gives owners the critical financial resources they need to invest in their businesses and create a better workplace for their employees. By strengthening these restaurants, we’re also supporting the hardworking teams behind them, ensuring they can grow, adapt and continue to serve the neighborhoods that depend on them."

 The 18hundred in Bakersfield. Photo courtesy of California Restaurant Foundation

 

Founded in 2021 to support restaurant owners facing ongoing challenges from COVID-19 and its aftermath, the Resilience Fund has awarded $7.3 million in grants to 1,603 independent restaurants – most of which are single-unit establishments. Resilience Fund recipients can use the financial assistance to support essential business needs, including kitchen equipment upgrades, technology improvements, unforeseen hardships and employee training programs and retention bonuses. By investing in these critical areas, restaurant owners can enhance operational efficiency, improve service quality and foster a more skilled workforce.

 

“We are committed to helping our hometown restaurants through our partnership with the California Restaurant Foundation,” said Carla Peterman, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, PG&E Corporation, and Chair of the Board, The PG&E Corporation Foundation. “Since 2021, we’ve proudly supported the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund program and understand the importance of these grants for our local food service establishments. Our local restaurants are critical to our neighborhoods and communities—and when they thrive, our local economies thrive.”

 Tap Wine Lounge in Sacramento. Photo courtesy of California Restaurant Foundation

 

Resilience Fund applications will be open from April 9 to April 26, 2025. Restaurant owners can apply at restaurantscare.org/resilience-general/. To qualify, restaurants must be located in PG&E’s service territory or SoCalGas-designated counties (Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties), have no more than five locations and generate less than $3 million in annual revenue per location. Additional grants are available for Los Angeles County restaurants impacted by the devastating wildfires, and more information about LA Fire Recovery Grants can be found at restaurantscare.org/resilience-la-fire.

"We are honored to continue our support to the California Restaurant Foundation's Resilience Fund, which plays a crucial role in supporting the restaurant community in our service areas,” said David Barrett, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at SoCalGas. “By providing these grants, we aim to help meet the business needs of independent restaurant owners so they can thrive and continue to contribute to the economic and social fabric of our neighborhoods."

The California Restaurant Foundation is actively seeking additional support from corporations, foundations and individuals who want to invest in California’s restaurant community. Donations of all sizes are accepted and celebrated at restaurantscare.org. For more information, visit restaurantscare.org.