IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
SoCal Gas has donated $525,000 to 162 independently owned restaurants throughout Southern and Central California, including 28 in the Inland Empire.
The grants – $3,000 to each restaurant – will be used for equipment upgrades, employee retention and other programs that will keep a restaurant in business, according to a statement by the Los Angeles-based utility.
The money comes from the $1.5 million Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, which is administered by the California Restaurant Association and paid for by SoCalGas, Pacific Gas and Electric, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Wells Fargo.
This is the program’s second year. To qualify, a restaurant must have no more than three independent locations and less than $3 million in revenue.
“Independent and locally owned restaurants are the backbone of so many communities – they welcome and accommodate our first dates, post-game celebrations and the many times we just don’t feel like cooking,” said Alycia, Harshfied, the restaurant federation’s executive director, in the statement. “Restaurant owners have worked tirelessly over the last two years to keep doors open and feed their community … it’s critical to continue to support and invest in local restaurants.”
Visit www.restaurantscare.org/resilience for a list of grant recipients.
