The El Cid Mexican restaurant in Oakhurst has received a $5,000 grant from PG&E. Google Street View photo

The PG&E Corporation Foundation and the California Restaurant Foundation (CRF) announced this week that four locally owned restaurants in Fresno County and two in Madera County will each receive $5,000 in resilience grants to invest in equipment upgrades, workforce training and more to help keep them in business and thrive.

The PG&E Foundation’s $1.1 million charitable contribution is funding $5,000 grants to 188 hometown restaurants in 29 counties in the publicly owned utility’s service area.

The funds also provide operating support for CRF, which administers the grant program.

The funding comes from PG&E shareholders, and not customers, according to a news release.

The grant recipients in Fresno and Madera counties are Corsaro’s Family Pizza in Kingsburg, Mochuelo in Fresno, Off the Grill in Sanger, Santa Fe Basque Restaurant & Bar in Fresno, El Cid Mexican Cuisine in Oakhurst, and Pita House in Madera.

“Our Central Valley restaurants — many of them owned by local families who live in our communities — are the places where we love to gather, celebrate and make memories. These small businesses also help drive our local economies. We’re grateful for our partnership with the California Restaurant Foundation that allows PG&E to support local restaurants and ensure their ongoing success,” said Josh Simes, vice president of PG&E’s Central Valley Region.

The contribution to CRF’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund will help grantees pay for equipment and technology upgrades, unforeseen hardship, employee retention bonuses and training to help restaurant owners invest in their businesses and people.

The grants were made available to California resident restaurant owners with fewer than five locations and less than $3 million in revenue.

Since 2021 PG&E and the foundation have contributed $4.3 million in funding to the CRF’s Restaurant’s Care Resilience Fund, providing grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000.

In total, the utility has funded grants to 675 restaurants and caterers in Northern and Central California.