8 Coachella Valley Restaurants Receive Grants

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — More than two dozen restaurants in the Inland Empire — including eight in the Coachella Valley — were awarded grants totaling $87,000 to pay for new equipment and cover employees' costs and related expenses under a support program operated by SoCal Gas and other entities, it was announced Thursday.

Bubbas Bones & Brews, which has locations in Palm Desert and Cathedral City; Casa Luna Mexican & Seafood Restaurant in Palm Desert; Cork & Fork in La Quinta; Los Pablos Birreria y Taqueria in Indio; Musashi Japanese Restaurant in Palm Desert; Nature's Health Food & Cafe in Palm Springs; Norma's Italian Kitchen in Rancho Mirage; and Cunard's Sandbar Restaurant in La Quinta will each receive $3,000 as part of an annual disbursal from the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, which is managed by the California Restaurant Foundation and financially supported by SoCal Gas, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Wells Fargo.

In total, 29 establishments in Riverside and San Bernardino counties received the funding.

"Independent restaurants are critical to the fabric of our communities because they contribute to culture, they foster job growth and contribute to the economic vitality of the neighborhoods they serve," SoCal Gas Vice President David Barrett said.

According to officials, the goal of this year's awards distribution was promoting the long-term financial health of restaurants. The leisure and hospitality industry was one of the most impacted by the coronavirus public health closures, resulting in permanent shutdowns throughout the region and state. Grant funds can be used for equipment outlays, retention bonuses and interior or exterior upgrades.

In addition to the 29 grants in the Inland Empire, dozens of independently owned eateries elsewhere in California also received awards. The complete list of recipients can be found here: www.restaurantscare.org/resilience.

—City News Service contributed to this report.