Grants available to Latino restaurant owners in Fresno area. There’s still time to apply

When Mireya Soto and Dinora López, co-owners of Mexican restaurant Mi Favorito Restaurant in Fowler, heard about the Latino Restaurant Association’s grant opportunity from Fowler City Mayor Daniel Parra, the sisters didn’t hesitate to look into the association and apply for the grant to help improve and grow their business.

“Definitely going to help. It’s going to benefit us. We’ve been waiting to buy a new fridge,” said Soto, who has been working in restaurants since she was 15 years old to help her mother financially.

Latino Restaurant Association CEO Lilly Rocha said the grants are sponsored by SoCalGas to support local Latino restaurant owners. The initiative will provide $2,500 to 35 restaurants in southern Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties.

“This grant program is designed to help these businesses thrive and continue contributing to our vibrant local economy,” said Rocha. “We believe in the power of our local restaurants and their significant contributions to the Latino community.”

The 34-year-old Soto, who opened the restaurant with her sister five years ago, said learning about the association “opened our minds to other things.”

How to qualify for the grant

To qualify for the grant, restaurant owners must meet the following criteria:

▪ Own up to three restaurant locations.

▪ Generate less than $1 million in annual revenue per location.

▪ Have been in business for more than three years.

▪ Must be a current SoCalGas business customer.

▪ Be a member of the Latino Restaurant Association (Free two-year memberships are available to restaurants in the grant area by using code VKF2024.)

The grant applications close Friday, Aug. 23. Grant recipients will be announced Sept. 9.

“These grants will provide some relief and can be used toward the purchase of interior equipment, technology upgrades, employee benefits or other changes that will support their small business,” said Andy Carrasco, vice president of communications, local government and community affairs at SoCalGas and member of the Latino Restaurant Association board of directors.

Rocha said the grants are only available for owners of a brick-and-mortar location right now. Owners of mobile food truck restaurants are ineligible.

Rocha said while the owners of Mi Favorito were one of the first to apply for the grant, there is still opportunity for other Latino owners to apply.

Details: Latino Restaurant Association website .