Locally owned restaurants — including recipients in Folsom and El Dorado Hills — will receive a financial boost from the California Restaurant Foundation (CRF) and The PG&E Corporation Foundation (PG&E Foundation) from grants to invest in equipment upgrades, workforce training and more — all intended 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 Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) service area. The contribution also provides operating support for CRF, which administers the grant program. The funding comes from PG&E shareholders, not customers.
Locally, 36 Handles Public House in El Dorado Hills, Coffee Republic in Folsom, and Pocket Deli in Rancho Cordova were among the small businesses awarded funding in this latest round. Other grant recipients in the Greater Sacramento area include Don Quixote’s Mexican Grill in Rocklin, Garden of Eat’n in Auburn, Omakase Por Favor in Lincoln, Timber House Restaurant in Chester, Rubinos Ristorante in Rocklin, Duke’s Plates & Pints in Sacramento, Fair Oaks Brew Pub, Maestro Coffee Shops in Sacramento, Davis Creamery and Uniboil in Davis, Cast Iron Cheese, Cocoro Bistro, and Gian’s Delicatessen in Stockton, and Prime Pizza in Lodi.
The PG&E Foundation’s 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 business and people. Grants were made available to California resident restaurant owners with fewer than five locations and less than $3 million in revenue, and prioritized minority- and women-owned businesses.
Since 2021, PG&E and the PG&E Foundation have contributed $4.3 million in funding to the CRF’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, providing grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. In total, PG&E has funded grants to 675 restaurants and caterers in Northern and Central California. (See the “From Kitchen to Community” video featuring past grant recipients in PG&E’s service area.)
“Many of these restaurants are owned by families who live in our communities and are places where we love to gather, celebrate and make memories,” said Joe Wilson, vice president of PG&E’s North Valley & Sierra Region. “They are the hearts and souls of our communities and the small businesses that help drive our local economies. We’re grateful for our continued partnership with the California Restaurant Foundation in supporting our local restaurants to ensure their ongoing success.”
“Receiving the grant is a great honor and feels like recognition of our efforts at Whitey’s Jolly Kone to continue to grow and serve our community,” said Jennifer Havson, co-owner of Whitey’s Jolly Kone, who received an earlier grant. “As third-generation owner-operators, we aim to revitalize the foundation that our grandfather and parents established for us, by expanding and upgrading a family-friendly space to meet the needs of the current and ever-growing community throughout Sacramento.”
Assisting Restaurants and Small and Medium Businesses
PG&E remains committed to providing ways for its small and medium business customers to save energy and money amid economic hardships including the pandemic and inflation. Here are some ways PG&E is helping its customers:
On-Bill Financing: PG&E offers 0% interest loans for replacing old and worn-out equipment with more energy-efficient models.
Rebates for food service equipment: PG&E offers several rebate programs that will help you save money and improve productivity when you upgrade your food service equipment.
Food Service Technology Center: Access key training programs, design consultants and test kitchen plans to improve your operations and energy efficiency.
Budget Billing: Small business owners can have a predictable bill each month by enrolling in Budget Billing, which averages out monthly usage to create a consistent payment amount.
Energy Efficiency Programs: PG&E contracts with external companies to provide customized solutions for various business sectors.
Find Your Lowest-cost Rate Plan: An online tool helps customers analyze usage and determine if they’re on the lowest-cost rate plan. Last year alone, customers saved $5.4 million.
Economic Development Rate: This program offers eligible businesses a 12% rate discount to encourage job growth and economic stability in PG&E’s service territory.
For more information on the California Restaurant Foundation, Restaurants Care, or the Restaurant Resilience Fund, visit restaurantscare.org.
About The PG&E Corporation Foundation
The PG&E Corporation Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, separate from PG&E and sponsored by PG&E Corporation.
Copyright © 2025, Folsom Times, a digital product of All Town Media LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
