Latino Restaurant Association Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by Awarding 23 Grants to Small Central Valley Restaurants with Donation from SoCalGas

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15, 2024/PRNewswire / -- The Latino Restaurant Association (LRA) announced that 23 independently owned restaurants in the Central Valley will receive grants of $3,500each, made possible by a $100,000grant from Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas). A check presentation was held Tuesday with grant recipient Mi Favoritorestaurant in the City of Fowler. The full list of grant recipients is here: https://latinorestaurantassociation.org/. Since 2020, SoCalGas has supported the LRA with over $350,000towards the organization's promotion and support of Latino restaurateurs and small business owners.

"We are thrilled to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by awarding 23 grants to deserving restaurants in South Fresno, Kingsand Tulare counties. This initiative not only supports our vibrant culinary community but also honors the rich cultural heritage that these establishments represent," said Lilly Rocha, CEO of the LRA. "By empowering these restaurants, we are preserving and promoting the diverse flavors and traditions that make our culture so unique. We are proud to stand with these entrepreneurs and help them continue to share their passion and heritage through their delicious food."

The LRA provides resources, advocacy, and networking opportunities to help Latino-owned restaurants succeed and grow.

"As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to acknowledge and thank the Latino Restaurant Association who, with the generous support of SoCalGas, will award grants to uplift and celebrate local businesses and honor our cultural heritage," said California State Sen. Anna Caballero(D-Merced). "More than just financial support, these grants are a testament to the resilience, creativity and hard work of our Latino restaurateurs. By investing in small businesses, we are preserving the rich culinary traditions of our community, sharing it with others, and fostering economic growth and opportunity in the Central Valley."

"SoCalGas recognizes the vital role small restaurants play in our communities, especially given the challenges they've faced in recent years," said Andy Carrasco, vice president of communications, local government and community affairs, SoCalGas."In collaboration with the Latino Restaurant Association, these grants will offer crucial support, enabling restaurants to invest in purchasing vital equipment, necessary dining gear, making technology upgrades, employee benefits, or other needs essential for the receiving restaurant's success and growth."

Grants will be given to seven restaurants in Fresno, four in Kingsand 11 in Tularecounties. The grant application was announced in July of this year, and eligibility was open to restaurants with a focus on Latino heritage or who have made significant contributions to the Latino community.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Latino Restaurant Association and SoCalGas for this generous $3,500grant. Their support allows us to continue sharing the rich and vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine with our community," said Mirella Soto, owner of Mi Favorito Restaurant. "Serving authentic Mexican food is not just about providing a meal; it's about celebrating our culture, traditions, and the joy of coming together over a delicious plate. This grant will help us enhance our kitchen, improve our services, and bring even more of our beloved dishes to our valued customers. Thank you, SoCalGas, for helping us keep the spirit of Mexican cuisine alive and thriving."

To qualify for the 2024 grant, restaurant owners must have met the following criteria:

• Own up to three restaurant locations
• Generate less than $1 millionin annual revenue per location
• Have been in business for more than three years
• Must be a current SoCalGas customer
• Be a member of the Latino Restaurant Association (Free two-year memberships were made available to restaurants in South Fresno, Kings, and TulareCounties).

Last year, SoCalGas supported the LRA in distributing grants to 35 Los Angeles County restaurants, including 25 Latino-owned and 10 AAPI-owned restaurants. LRA members network with industry professionals, market their brands, and learn ways to make their businesses more efficient. The grants are part of SoCalGas' ASPIRE 2045 Sustainability Strategy. SoCalGas plans to invest $50 million over five years into communities the company serves. SoCalGas aspires to empower communities and help entrepreneurs grow for success.

About SoCalGas
SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States, serving approximately 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest, and most innovative energy infrastructure company in America. SoCalGas aims to deliver affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service through its pipelines to help advance California'sclean energy transition by supporting energy system reliability and resiliency and enabling the integration of renewable resources. SoCalGas is a recognized leader in its industry and community, as demonstrated by being named one of Reuters' Top 100 Innovators Leading the Global Energy Transition and Corporate Member of the Year by the Los AngelesChamber of Commerce. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a leading North American energy infrastructure company. For more information, visit newsroom.SoCalGas.com or connect with SoCalGas on social media @SoCalGas. 

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Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (IEnova) are not the same companies as the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or Southern California Gas Company, and Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor and IEnova are not regulated by the CPUC.

SOURCE Southern California Gas Company