Resilience grant awarded to independently owned Central Coast restaurants

MARINA, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Local restaurants are being awarded economic relief through sponsor efforts. The California Restaurant Foundation is helping businesses address staff shortages and other obstacles. 

And for Isabel Escorcia, owner of Aki Fresh Mex in Marina, that help is just in time for their expansion plans. 

For the last five years, the California Restaurant Foundation has awarded $5 thousand grants to independent establishments throughout the state. 

Isabel says her daughter saw the application and helped her apply. They originally opened their business back in 2019, and in only a few months, they faced their biggest challenge: major COVID closures. 

“It was definitely a reflection on the past, you know,” said Danna Herrera, co-owner of the restaurant and Isabel's daughter. 

She adds that this grant puts them one step closer to their goals, allowing them to purchase necessary equipment to take their business on the road. 

“It's a struggle for people to come here,” she says, pointing out that parking is limited outside their restaurant. “We want to go to the people, you know? That's the idea behind that, to be a little bit more involved, hopefully, like in markets, and do more collaborations with other chefs or other local chefs.” 

The California Restaurant Foundation says that 87 percent of the recipients are single-unit establishments with an average of 11 years in business. Grants like these are hoping to push these independent restaurants forward.

"We're here because we love it here,” adds Danna. “Yeah, we have the struggles, it has been a struggle, and it will still be a struggle, and I'm sure we will face more struggles. We're going to be here for as long as, honestly, as long as God lets us.”

Restaurants that do not exceed $3 million in revenue are eligible for the resilience grant program. This year — of the 231 awards — seven of them were in Monterey County and another three in Santa Cruz County. Danna says the grant will keep their passion project going.

Since 2021, the resilience fund has helped more than 2,000 independent restaurants and caterers across California.