Solano-Napa SBDC receives $100,000 grant for Restaurant Resiliency Program
Restaurants in Vallejo and Fairfield still reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a much-needed boost this summer from a new community program that will also benefit the most vulnerable populations in those cities.
The Restaurant Resiliency Program, created by Wells Fargo, will provide 3,200 meals over a 20-week period beginning in June. The program will pay participating restaurants $25 to prepare a hot, nutritious meal for low-income families and people who are homeless in Vallejo and Fairfield.
Participating Solano County restaurants will also receive one full year of additional support services and technical assistance from the California Restaurant Association Foundation. The Restaurant Resiliency Program is being administered by the Solano Small Business Development Center and the Workforce Development Board of Solano County.
“Any restaurant in Vallejo or Fairfield is eligible to participate in this program but we will be giving priority to those businesses with 15 or fewer employees because we know those are the ones that have been hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Tim Murrill, director of the Solano-Napa SBDC. “We are so grateful for the generosity of Wells Fargo that will benefit our restaurants and low-income individuals in our community.”
A restaurant interest form is available online at www.solanonapasbdc.org/Restaurant-Resiliency-Program.
To serve more families and make this a sustainable program, funded through support and donations in the community, a GoFundMe and other fundraisers are planned to raise an additional $50,000 to match the seed money provided by Wells Fargo.
“Supporting our hardest hit small local restaurants in keeping their doors open and retaining jobs, while also addressing the regional crisis of food insecurity, gives us great hope as we rebuild and recover together.” said Erica Trejo, Wells Fargo Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability.
For additional information, contact Brianna Boyd at the Solano-Napa SBDC at 707-646-1071 or bboyd@solanowdb.org.
