12 Inland Empire Restaurants Earn Resilience Fund Grant

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — A grant from the California Restaurant Foundation is helping restaurant owners keep the oven fires burning, one restaurant at a time.

A total of 89 restaurants in Southern and Central California, including the 12 Inland Empire recipients, received the $5,000 grant from the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund for kitchen equipment, technical upgrades, employee training and bonuses, and unforeseen hardships.

Two of the recipient restaurants suffered through record snow levels in the San Bernardino County mountains, including Paisley's Crestline Cafe of Crestline and RB's Steakhouse in Blue Jay.

The$2.1 million CRF grant program is financed by California energy companies, including SoCal Gas, according to a spokesperson for that organization. Another round of grant funding is expected in October.

Across the inland Empire, these 12 restaurants most recently received the award:

1. Stacy's Kitchen, Blythe, Riverside County
2. Chef2thebone, Corona, Riverside County
3. Little Eastern Cafe, Eastvale, Riverside County
4. Lala's Waffles Crepes & Shakes, Indio, Riverside County
5. Michi Tacos, Lake Elsinore, Riverside County
6. Le Petit Cafe, Murrieta, Riverside County
7. Otori Japanese Cuisine, Palm Desert, Riverside County
8. Scratch Pizza, Riverside, Riverside County
9. Killarney's Irish Pub, Temecula, Riverside County
10. RB's Steakhouse, Blue Jay, San Bernardino County
11. Paisleys Crestline Cafe, Crestline, San Bernardino County
12. Sweet Obsession Cheesecakes, Upland, San Bernardino County

In 2023, the California Restaurant Federation received a record number of grant applications, according to Executive Director Alycia Harshfield.

"We received 25 percent more (applications) than last year — so it's apparent that there's an immense need to support independent and locally-owned restaurants throughout the state," she said. "It's wonderful to receive support from SoCalGas, the PG&E Foundation, and SDG&E for the third year in a row, as the aid we can provide via the Resilience Fund is more impactful with their involvement. Let's continue to support local restaurants who keep our diverse communities full of vibrant flavors and personalities!"

Over the past three years, the fund has assisted almost 1,000 independent restaurants. They are still seeking additional corporate support to keep the grants going.

Find more information here, including the application for the next grant cycle.
Restaurants Care is expected to help 366 independent California eateries this year, according to the foundation. The organization actively seeks more supporters, and donations of all sizes are accepted and celebrated. Visit www.restaurantscare.org/resilience for more information.