Funding Resources
Restaurants Care Resilience Fund: $5,000 Grants for California Independent Restaurants
Since 2021 the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund has awarded $11 million across 2,087 grants to independent restaurants, caterers, and food trucks across California. If you run an independent food business in California and have been looking for funding to upgrade equipment, invest in your team, or recover from an unexpected hit, this is one of the most relevant programs available to you. The 2026 grant cycle is now closed with notifications going out in late August 2026. Here is everything you n
Who They Are
Restaurants Care is a program of the California Restaurant Foundation, a nonprofit that has been supporting California's restaurant industry since 1981. The Resilience Fund was created in response to the pandemic and has since become a permanent fixture in the restaurant funding landscape. The program is supported by PG&E Corporation Foundation and SoCalGas, and administered by the California Restaurant Foundation headquartered in Sacramento.
The Grant Amount
$5,000 per selected restaurant. Grants are awarded for specific categories including kitchen equipment upgrades, technology upgrades, employee training and retention, and unforeseen hardship. Since launch, equipment upgrades have been the most common use at 31%, followed by employee training and retention at 21%.
Who Is Eligible
To qualify your restaurant must be a commercial customer of PG&E or SoCalGas. You must operate between one and five locations and may apply for one location only — that location must have annual revenue up to $3 million. Your business must be currently open and have been in operation for at least one full year since June 1, 2025. Food businesses that have recently expanded to a brick-and-mortar location within the last year are also eligible. Previous grant recipients may apply again for a different location or concept.
The 2026 Cycle
The 2026 application cycle is now closed. Applicants will be notified in late August 2026. To be notified when the next cycle opens, subscribe at share.hsforms.com/1xeXX4BtDR8qTvbDhHZzGNwd938s.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://restaurantscare.org/resilience/
BoostGrant helps food businesses and independent restaurants find and apply for the right funding programs across California and nationally. Get started at Boostgrant.com
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Resilience Fund grant?
$5,000 per selected restaurant.
Is the 2026 cycle still open?
No. The 2026 cycle is closed. Applicants will be notified in late August 2026. Subscribe for alerts about future cycles
Do I need to be a PG&E or SoCalGas customer?
Yes. Commercial customers of either PG&E or SoCalGas are the primary eligibility requirement.
Can previous recipients apply again?
Yes, for a different location or concept from the one previously funded.
Grants mentioned in this article
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