Photo by Gabriel Dillard

In an effort to help small businesses struggling to make ends meet with the continuing rise of utility costs, the City of Fresno has launched a pilot program to help locally owned restaurants make energy-related improvements.

With the hopes of reducing the cost of appliance usage in local restaurants, the City of Fresno is providing grants of up to $15,000 and up to 75% of total infrastructure-improvement project costs, including improvements to HVAC systems, lighting, insulation enhancements, kitchen equipment upgrades and other energy saving measures.

Earlier this month, PG&E’s shareholders contributed $500,000 to the City, with $400,000 directly assisting restaurants improve their energy efficiency.

Standalone brick-and-mortar restaurants as well as restaurants and eateries housed inside other businesses are eligible, including gas station eateries. Locally-owned restaurants with multiple locations are also eligible for the program and will each require a separate application. Owners of multiple restaurants will also need to prioritize locations by importance.

Food trucks are not eligible for grant funding at this time.

Interested restaurant owners can find more information at the City of Fresno’s Energy Efficiency Grant Program FAQ page. Applicants can apply for the program here.