KING CITY — King City restaurant El Taquero Deli has been selected to receive a $5,000 grant aimed at strengthening its operations and ensuring its continued success in a competitive industry.
The grant is part of a broader initiative supported by the California Restaurant Foundation (CRF) and the PG&E Corporation Foundation (PG&E Foundation) to aid locally owned restaurants across the Central Coast.
El Taquero Deli, which offers fresh-squeezed juices and a variety of healthy food choices at 327 Broadway St., is among 26 restaurants across California’s Central Coast benefiting from this financial boost. The grants are intended to help cover equipment upgrades, workforce training and other improvements that will enable these establishments to stay open and thrive amid ongoing challenges.
This initiative is part of a larger $1.1 million contribution from PG&E Foundation, which is funding grants for 188 hometown restaurants across 29 counties within Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s service area. The funding comes from PG&E shareholders, not customer rates, and also supports CRF’s operational efforts to administer the grants.
In Monterey County, seven restaurants are among the recipients, including A Taste of Monterey in Monterey, Aki Fresh Mex in Carmel and Marina, Happy Girl Kitchen in Pacific Grove, La Casa del Sazon in Salinas, La Mia Cucina in Pacific Grove and Other Brother Beer Co. in Seaside, along with El Taquero Deli in King City.
The grants are specifically targeted at California restaurant owners with fewer than five locations and less than $3 million in annual revenue, with a focus on supporting minority- and women-owned businesses. The funds will help recipients with equipment and technology upgrades, employee retention and training, providing vital support to sustain local dining establishments.
Since 2021, PG&E and the PG&E Foundation have contributed approximately $4.3 million to the CRF’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, supporting 675 restaurants and caterers across Northern and Central California with grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000.
As King City’s El Taquero Deli and other local restaurants continue to recover and grow, this partnership underscores a dedicated effort to bolster small businesses and preserve the vibrant culinary culture of the Central Coast.
For more information on the California Restaurant Foundation or the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, visit restaurantscare.org.
