Resilience Fund

• Independent restaurants or commercial caterers located in CA owned by a CA resident
• Must be an independently-owned, for-profit business including sole proprietorships, LLC's or Corporations that are not publicly traded (not part of a large chain or franchise); nonprofits are not eligible to apply.
• 1-5 units
• Under $3 million in annual revenue (combined revenue for all units/concepts)
• Have been open for at least one full year
• Currently open
• Commercial customer of PG&E, SoCalGas, or SDG&E. You must upload a utility bill that says "commercial customer".
• Businesses must serve food and beverage. Example, a coffee shop that only serves coffee would not qualify. But a coffee shop that serves scones and muffins would.
• Restaurants must be brick and mortar, open to the public, have regular operating hours, and serve both food and beverage.
• If you received a grant from the Resilience Fund in the past, you are eligible to apply again. Howeer, priority will be given to those who have not received funding from us in the past.
• Note: members of the STATE boards of the California Restaurant Association and California Restaurant Foundation are not eligible.

We don't want you to waste your time! Here are examples of businesses that are not eligible:

• Meal prep companies
• Home based food companies
• Food trucks
• Nonprofits
• Businesses in Long Beach (must be a customer of SoCalGas)

Applications are accepted June 15-30, 2024

The $5,000 grant can used for kitchen equipment, technology upgrades, employee training or retention bonuses, or unforeseen hardship.

• Kitchen equipment: Eligible equipment must be energy efficient and qualify for rebates (Hey! That's extra money to help pay for your equipment!). Items include: steamer, rack oven, conveyor broiler, combination oven, conveyor oven, fryer, underfired broiler, convection oven, griddle, and dishwasher. You can use your $5,000 check to purchase from whichever vendor you would like. To learn more about rebates available, visit https://caenergywise.com/instant-rebates/
• Technology upgrades: Eligible uses include POS system, website, accounting software, HR software, inventory management, and loyalty programs.
• Employee training: Been meaning to elevate your employee training and systems? Use this grant to design a training program/handbook, purchase ServSafe trainings, or join the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers.
• Retention bonuses: Reward your best and brightest employees. You will need to state how many employees will receive grants and which positions they have (front of house, back of house, managers). The number of employees and positions do NOT impact your likelihood of getting a grant, we simply want to know how the funds will be used.
• Unforeseen hardship: Within the last 12 months, has your restaurant experienced robbery/theft, vandalism, fire/flood, or natural disaster? This grant can help.

You are welcome to apply, however priortiy will be given to those who have not received a grant yet. It is very rare to receive a second grant, and unlikely you will be selected.

Great question! Of the funds we have to grant out, 5% will go to the Restaurants Care relief fund for food and beverage workers. This is our way of building a holistic recovery. Grants for restaurants, small business support services, and grants for workers. Workers do not have to be employed at one of the restaurants receiving relief funding. Any f+b worker in CA can apply for help at www.restaurantscare.org.

Checks will be mailed to the address you included on your application in late August.

No. All submitted applications will be reviewed.

Completed applications that meet eligibility requirements are reviewed and scored on a rubric created by a task force of the California Restaurant Foundation.