Northern and Central California Restaurants Receive Big Financial Boost from PG&E

Since the program’s inception, PG&E and the PG&E Foundation have contributed $3.2 million, helping over 675 restaurants and caterers.Photo byLuca BravoonUnsplash

Locally-owned restaurants across Northern and Central California are receiving a much-needed financial boost from the California Restaurant Foundation (CRF) and The PG&E Corporation Foundation (PG&E Foundation). Through a series of $5,000 grants, these funds aim to help restaurants invest in equipment upgrades, workforce training, and more, ultimately strengthening their businesses for long-term success.

This year, the PG&E Foundation contributed $900,000 to fund 154 grants across 29 counties within Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) service area. The grants are part of the CRF's Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, which has been supporting restaurant owners since 2021. The funding, provided by PG&E shareholders, also offers operational support to CRF, ensuring the continuation of this vital program.

The grants are available to California-based restaurant owners with fewer than five locations and less than $3 million in revenue, with a focus on minority- and women-owned businesses. For the first time, commercial caterers were also eligible for the grants, reflecting their significant role in the local food scene.

One of this year’s recipients, Plant Slayer in Fresno, a vegan restaurant that began as a food truck in 2020, expressed gratitude for the grant.