Restaurant Foundation Fund Awards $5,000 Grants to Eateries in San Diego, Statewide

The California Restaurant Foundation has awarded 34 independent restaurants in the region with $5,000 grants.

The foundation, a nonprofit that invests in and supports California restaurants and their workforce, issued a total of 278 awards as part of its fourth consecutive distribution from the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund.

The grants were made possible via donations from SoCalGas, the PG&E Corporation Foundation and San Diego Gas and Electric; each have contributed to the fund since 2021.

Recipients can use the $5,000 for equipment and technology upgrades, unforeseen hardships, employee retention bonuses and training, all of which allow independent restaurant owners and caterers to invest in the longevity of their business.

“Together, we have proudly sustained the Resilience Fund for the past four years, ensuring that California’s independent restaurant owners and caterers remain a vital and vibrant part of our state’s culinary landscape and economy for many years ahead,” said Alycia Harshfield, executive director of the foundation.

Among the restaurants receiving awards, 154 are in Pacific Gas and Electric’s service area, 90 in SoCalGas’ region and 34 in SDG&E’s territory.

Virut Tilakamonkul, owner of Thotsakan Thai and Vegetarian Cuisine in downtown San Diego, said the grant provided the eatery with “much-needed financial relief.”

“Receiving the Resilience Fund grant has been a transformative blessing for us. The generous financial support has enabled us to enhance our kitchen equipment, ensuring that we maintain the highest standards of food quality and safety,” Tilakamonkul said.

Eighty-eight percent of recipients are single-unit establishments, with an average of 10 years in business. Notably, 76% of the recipients identify as female, while 73% identify as people of color.

More than 70% of this year’s recipients plan to use the $5,000 grants for kitchen equipment or technology upgrades and 17% will dedicate the funds to employee retention bonuses.

The Resilience Fund has provided financial assistance to more than 1,600 independent restaurants and caterers across California. To qualify, restaurants and caterers needed to have fewer than five units and less than $3 million in revenue.