San Diego Eateries Can Apply For Restaurants Care Grant Applications

SAN DIEGO, CA — Starting Saturday, San Diego eateries can apply for grants from the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund.

California Restaurant Foundation announced it will award $5,000 grants to 278 independent business owners across the state.

"I encourage fellow restaurant owners to take advantage of the Resilience Fund grant opportunity," said Doug Wetherald, owner of Cardiff Beach Bar @ Tower13, which received a SDG&E-funded grant in 2023. "The application process is straightforward, and the rewards are well worth the effort."

California Restaurant Foundation partnered with California's energy companies — including SDG&E, SoCalGas and PG&E — to launch the fourth consecutive fund. For the first time, commercial caterers are eligible to apply, in addition to independent restaurant owners.

Resilience Fund applications will be open from Saturday to June 30.

Grants will be available to all California-based restaurant owners and commercial caterers within the utility companies' service areas, provided they operate fewer than five units and generate less than $3 million in annual revenue. Priority consideration will be given to restaurants that have not received a grant previously, according to the foundation.

"The foundation, along with our generous partners, proudly continue our Resilience Fund efforts year after year to ensure California's independent restauranteurs and food business owners remain an integral part of our state's vibrant dining community and economy for decades to come," said Alycia Harshfield, executive director of California Restaurant Foundation.

The Resilience Fund was founded in 2021 in response to the challenges restaurant owners faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the fund has distributed nearly $6 million in grants. To date, more than 1,325 grants have been awarded to independent restaurants throughout the state.