The Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation Restaurant Fund, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF), has awarded $500,000 in grants to 71 restaurants in Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley (including Los Alamos). This grant program was launched in February with eligible restaurants able to receive grants of up to $10,000.
Santa Barbara County tourism has taken a large hit due to rolling spikes in COVID-19 cases, that included several restaurant closures.
Restaurants have been able to expand into the streets and sidewalks to allow for outdoor dining. As restaurants have attempted to be creative in their approach to remain open, restaurant employees still suffered economically.
“The grant we received from the Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation Restaurant Fund has been invaluable in allowing us to reopen after a prolonged shutdown,” said Kelly Kastanos-Rogers, co-owner of Louie’s California Bistro in downtown Santa Barbara and grant recipient.
“We were able to stock our shelves with the seafood and produce to prepare for opening, and we were able to provide our employees with the first paycheck many of them have had in months. We will be forever grateful,” Kastanos-Rogers said.
The Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation Restaurant Fund is a committee-advised fund at the Santa Barbara Foundation, which is working to provide additional relief to the community at large. The grant program application period ran Feb. 4-22.
“The Santa Barbara Foundation is working hard to connect resources and ease the short and long-term effects of COVID-19,” said Jessica Sanchez, SBF director of donor relations. “This committee-advised fund is creating immediate impact, and we are grateful to support our community at large in this way.”
The Santa Barbara Foundation is the largest community foundation in the region. Nearly every Santa Barbara County nonprofit organization and essential community project has been supported by the foundation during its 93-year history. To learn more, visit SBFoundation.org.