$1.28 Million Available to Help California’s Food & Beverage Businesses Invest in Growth, Stability and Long-term Success
Sacramento, CA (Restaurant News Release) The California Restaurant Foundation (CRF), a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening California’s restaurant community for 45 years, announced the launch of the sixth annual Restaurants Care® Resilience Fund with $1,280,000 in grants to be awarded in 2026 through the continued support of The PG&E Corporation Foundation (PG&E Foundation) and SoCalGas. Beginning June 1 through June 30, eligible independent restaurants and commercial caterers across the state can apply for $5,000 grants that help operators strengthen their businesses, support their teams and navigate ongoing industry challenges.
“The Resilience Fund has evolved into a powerful engine for growth and stability within California’s restaurant community, and each year, we see firsthand how these grants help operators overcome immediate challenges while also investing in their future, whether that’s upgrading kitchens, adopting new technology or supporting and retaining their teams,” said Alycia Harshfield, President of CRF. “As the industry continues to navigate new pressures, this fund remains a critical resource for helping independent restaurants adapt, grow and thrive.”
Resilience Fund grants support the most critical areas of restaurant operations, from kitchen equipment upgrades and technology improvements to employee training, retention and recovery from unforeseen hardships. These investments go beyond day-to-day needs, helping operators run more efficiently, elevate the guest experience and build stronger, more sustainable businesses. At a time when costs remain high and margins are tight, this type of targeted support gives independent restaurants the flexibility to reinvest in their operations and continue serving their communities.
“We are proud to partner with the California Restaurant Foundation as it continues to grow its support for our hometown restaurants. The PG&E Foundation has contributed nearly $5.6 million in charitable funding to date for CRF’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund. This funding has provided grants of up to $5,000 each to nearly 900 Northern and Central California restaurants – and we’re excited to do it again this year. The success of our local restaurants strengthens our local economies and communities,” said Carla Peterman, President, PG&E Corporation, and Executive Vice President Customer & Corporate Affairs and Chair of the Board of the PG&E Corporation Foundation.
Since its inception in 2021, the program has delivered more than $11 million in funding to 2,087 independent restaurant operators and caterers across 50 counties in California, reinforcing its role as one of the state’s most meaningful investments in small business resilience. Over the past five years, the Resilience Fund has supported a wide range of operator needs, with 31% of grants going toward equipment upgrades, 21% toward employee training and retention, and additional funding addressing impacts from COVID-19 (15%), natural disasters including recent Los Angeles fires (12%), technology upgrades (9%), and industry disruptions such as the Hollywood strikes (8%). Notably, 90% of grant recipients are single-unit operators, with an average of 10 years in business, collectively employing more than 26,500 people across the state.
“SoCalGas is proud to continue supporting the California Restaurant Foundation’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, delivering critical grants that help stabilize local economies, sustain jobs, and strengthen independent restaurants across the region. Our collaboration invests in businesses that play a vital role in California’s long?term economic stability,” said Sarita Figueroa, Senior Manager, Community Affairs & Relations, SoCalGas.
Grants are available to eligible restaurant owners and commercial caterers who are customers of PG&E or SoCalGas, operate in California, and meet program requirements, including having one to five locations and annual revenue of up to $3 million at the location for which they are requesting funding. To qualify for the grant, a restaurant must currently be open and have been in operation for at least one full year. Previous grant recipients may apply again for a different location or concept. Existing food businesses that are expanding into a brick-and-mortar location are also eligible to apply.
Applications for the 2026 Resilience Fund will be accepted between June 1 and June 30, with grant recipients to be announced the week of August 23. To apply or learn more about eligibility requirements, visit RestaurantsCare.org/resilience. For more information about the California Restaurant Foundation or Restaurants Care, please visit CalRestFoundation.org.
About the California Restaurant Foundation (CRF)
The California Restaurant Foundation (CRF) is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering California’s restaurant community. Since 1981, CRF has provided critical support to restaurant workers facing hardship, delivered job and life skills training to 14,500 high school students and awarded scholarships to future hospitality leaders. By investing in people, CRF ensures that California’s restaurant industry continues to thrive while fostering opportunity, resilience and growth. For more information, visit CalRestFoundation.org.
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Kelly Itatani
Powerhouse+Co.
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