Grants for Latino-Owned Restaurants Supporting Growth and Sustainability (California)

Grants for Latino-Owned Restaurants Supporting Growth and Sustainability (California) is sponsored by Various, facilitated by The Grant Portal. This grant program in California specifically supports Latino-owned restaurants to foster their growth and sustainability.

* Political engagement & contributions * Reliability & resilience * Sustainability resource library * [](https://www. sempra.

com/35-small-latino-and-aapi-owned-restaurants-receive-2500-grants-latino-restaurant-association#) Displaying results 1 - 15 of 1197 Sempra Advances Strategic Capital Recycling Program with Sale of Ecogas SoCalGas Program Provides More Than $10 Million in Energy Efficiency Upgrades to Schools and Local Governments Sempra named to TIME’s America’s Best Companies 2026 list Sempra has been recognized on TIME’s America’s Best Companies 2026 list, a publicly announced ranking developed in collaboration with Statista.

The list evaluated 1,000 U.S. companies across three dimensions: financial performance, employee satisfaction and sustainability transparency. The recognition comes as Sempra advances its mission to build America’s leading utility growth business.

To support that work, the company is executing a strategic capital recycling program with a view toward simplifying the business, concentrating investments on regulated utilities and strengthening its balance sheet.

Sempra’s work is anchored in California and Texas — the two largest economies in the U.S. — where its utilities help power economic growth, serve growing communities and strengthen the energy systems on which everyday life depends. Supporting this strategic effort is Sempra's talented workforce of nearly 20,000 employees.

Their commitment to safety, operational excellence and continued improvement helps advance the company's goal of delivering long-term value to shareholders and enhanced benefits to customers and other stakeholders. “Sempra’s business performance begins with our people,” said Jeffrey W. Martin, chairman and CEO of Sempra.

“Across our leadership team, there is a strong focus on execution and our employees are committed to our mission. That’s why being included on TIME’s America’s Best Companies 2026 list is a meaningful recognition. ” Beyond work, employees also make a meaningful impact on the communities they serve through volunteerism, philanthropy and community engagement.

This recognition by TIME follows other recent recognition of Sempra’s performance, culture and long-term positioning, including The Wall Street Journal’s Best Managed Companies and Best Companies for the Future, Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Companies to Work For 2026 and Forbes’ Most Trusted Companies.

Record 811 Participation Helps Drive Lowest Infrastructure Damage Rate on Record Across SoCalGas Service Territory SoCalGas Introduces Updated Employee Uniforms to Improve Safety SoCalGas Board of Directors Approves Retirement of All Outstanding Shares of Preferred Stock Sempra Reports Strong Second-Quarter 2026 Results Sempra Infrastructure Advances Key Priorities Sempra to Report Second-Quarter 2026 Earnings on August 6 Earlier this week, Sempra announced key leadership appointments to advance the company’s strategic priorities, naming Justin Bird executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of Sempra.

As CFO, Bird will expand his current oversight of corporate development by adding accounting, investor relations, treasury, financial planning, audit, insurance and tax functions to his scope of responsibilities. The effective date for Bird’s appointment is expected to be on or around the closing date of Sempra’s planned sale of a 45% stake in Sempra Infrastructure Partners (Sempra Infrastructure) to affiliates of KKR.

Read the press release for more information. A 20-year veteran of Sempra, Bird has held leadership roles instrumental to long-term value creation involving many of the company’s most significant investments and capital market transactions, with experience spanning project finance, financial planning, corporate development, treasury, governance and legal functions.

He has served on the board of Oncor Electric Delivery Company since January 2024, where he serves on the Audit, Finance, and Governance & Sustainability Committees, and has chaired the board of Sempra Infrastructure since 2021. “At Sempra, we have a clear view of the significant opportunities ahead and what is required to execute on them,” Bird said.

“As CFO, I’m looking forward to working closely with investors and other key stakeholders, developing the next generation of finance talent across the organization and supporting Sempra’s growth as we advance our mission to build America’s leading utility growth business.

” Leading through change Bird currently serves as executive vice president of Sempra and chief executive officer of Sempra Infrastructure where he leads one of North America’s leading energy infrastructure platforms, managing more than $30 billion in total assets.

Bird has overseen the build-out of three business lines — liquefied natural gas (LNG), energy networks and low carbon solutions — and a team of nearly 3,000 dedicated employees during a period of significant growth.

During his tenure of leading Sempra Infrastructure, Bird was successful in building a globally competitive LNG platform, advancing a portfolio of large-scale infrastructure projects and executing a series of strategic transactions to create shareholder value, while strengthening the company’s operational, safety and financial performance.

Under his leadership, the company progressed construction across a series of major projects, reaching final investment decisions on Port Arthur LNG Phases 1 and 2, reaching commercial operations at a series of large-scale wind and solar photovoltaic projects, moving Energía Costa Azul LNG Phase 1 toward completion and reaching an agreement to sell Ecogas México, S. de R. L.

de C. V. Collectively, these accomplishments expanded Sempra Infrastructure’s global footprint, enhanced its growth trajectory and reinforced its position as a leading North American energy infrastructure platform.

Before leading Sempra Infrastructure, Bird served as chief executive officer of Sempra LNG, where he competitively differentiated the company’s business strategy by calling for the development of projects capable of dispatching LNG out of the Gulf of America and off the west coast of North America.

He also previously served as president of Sempra LNG, leading marketing and commercial development efforts across the company’s LNG portfolio. Cross-disciplined foundation for success Earlier in his career, Bird also held roles that helped build the cross-discipline foundation he brings to the CFO role.

As director of project finance for Sempra, he led the successful $7 billion financing of the Cameron LNG liquefaction export terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana. In addition, he played a key role in helping structure and finance other major infrastructure investments across Sempra's portfolio.

Previously, Bird also served as vice president, compliance and governance and corporate secretary for Sempra, where he directed ethics and compliance programs and served as chief governance officer and corporate secretary. In that role, he oversaw corporate governance activities, including shareholder engagement programs, and helped strengthen company-wide compliance and risk management processes.

Bird joined Sempra in 2004 after working as an attorney at Latham & Watkins LLP, where he specialized in energy project development and finance. Bird holds a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Arizona State University, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the school’s law review.

Sempra Advances Strategic Priorities with Key Leadership Appointments Sempra Infrastructure's ECA LNG Phase 1 Exports First LNG Cargo from Mexico's Pacific Coast SDG&E Drives High Solar Adoption as One in Four Customers Go Solar SoCalGas and U.S.VETS Honor Veterans with 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Celebration Storage Helps Capture 5-Year Low Natural Gas Prices, Supporting More Stable Energy Costs for SoCalGas and SDG&E Customers Corporate Sustainability Report [](https://www.

sempra. com/35-small-latino-and-aapi-owned-restaurants-receive-2500-grants-latino-restaurant-association#)[](https://www. sempra.

com/35-small-latino-and-aapi-owned-restaurants-receive-2500-grants-latino-restaurant-association#) * Reliability & resilience * Sustainability resource library * Political engagement & contributions Corporate Sustainability Report # 35 Small Latino and AAPI-Owned Restaurants Receive $2,500 Grants from Latino Restaurant Association [](https://www. sempra.

com/35-small-latino-and-aapi-owned-restaurants-receive-2500-grants-latino-restaurant-association) SoCalGas' $100,000 Donation to Help Support Restaurants Make Upgrades or Support Employee Benefits LOS ANGELES, Sept.

21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --The Latino Restaurant Associationtoday announced that 35 restaurant owners have been awarded $2,500 grants, with a focused effort in supporting 25 Latino-owned and 10 Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (APPI)-owned restaurants.

This inaugural initiative was made possible through a $100,000 grant from SoCalGasand is part of the company's ongoing support for small restaurants recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Since 2021, SoCalGas has supported 471 small restaurants with over $2 million in grants through the California Restaurant Foundation's Restaurants Resilience Fund.

The grant application was open to restaurant owners in Los Angeles County, with a particular emphasis on Latino and AAPI-owned businesses meeting the following criteria: having a single location, generating annual revenue under $1 million, being SoCalGas customers, and having been in business for at least three years.

The goal of the grants is to highlight the solidarity of the Latino and AAPI communities, who have significantly contributed to the diverse culture of Los Angeles in the face of great challenges. The grant recipients will be able to use the funds toward the purchase of interior equipment, technology upgrades, employee benefits or other changes that will support their small business.

"The restaurants who have been awarded grants are focal points in their communities and serve as a gathering place for everyone, so it's important to support local businesses like these, especially during difficult economic times," said Andy Carrasco, Vice President of Communications, Local Government and Community Affairs at SoCalGas and member of the Latino Restaurant Association Board of Directors.

"As we celebrate Latino Heritage month, we want to also express our solidarity with the AAPI community, highlight the commonalities, and celebrate the unique cultures reflected in the restaurant's cuisines." "We are very grateful to SoCalGas for their contribution of $100,000 to the Latino Restaurant Association.

This funding has allowed us to give back to our vibrant restaurant community in the form of $2,500 grants," said Lilly Rocha, Executive Director and CEO, Latino Restaurant Association. "As an association, we are committed to going above and beyond for our members and communities. It was important to the Latino Restaurant Association to also offer these grants to those in the AAPI community.

Our communities thrive when we come together, and coming together often looks like sharing a meal in one of our local restaurants." "The grants awarded to these restaurants will not only support jobs but stabilize long standing, culturally oriented, small businesses that are critical for our city to be vibrant and strong," said Senator Maria Elena Durazo.

"We are proud of these efforts by the Latino Restaurant Association and commend all of our small business owners who are being recognized and awarded as part of this program." "La Mascota has been in Boyle Heights since 1952, and in 70 years, we have overcome multiple periods of economic hardship.

With this grant from the Latino Restaurant Association, we will be able to take on the rising costs that have especially impacted us over the past few years," said Patty Aparicio, owner of La Mascota. "We appreciate the additional resources that will help us continue serving tamales and sweet breads to the Boyle Heights community."

SoCalGas' ASPIRE 2045 sustainability and climate commitment to net zero emissions, also highlights goals in safety, DE&I in the workplace, and a plan to invest $50 million in underserved communities. The Latino Restaurant Association (LRA) supports and promotes restaurateurs, small businesses and the Latino restaurant community to ensure the equitable economic growth of the sector.

LRA community members come together to network with industry pros, market their brand and learn new ways of making their business more efficient. For more information on the LRA, visit https://latinorestaurantassociation. org/ Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States.

SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to over 21 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines will continue to play a key role in California's clean energy transition—providing electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy deployment.

SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy infrastructure company in America. In support of that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030.

Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy infrastructure company based in San Diego.

**About the Latino Restaurant Association** The Latino Restaurant Association supports and promotes restaurateurs, small businesses, and the entire Latino restaurant community to ensure the equitable economic growth of the sector. The Latino restaurant community is strong in Los Angeles and coming together for critical issues in our business community allows everyone to thrive.

LRA community members come together to network with industry pros, market their brand and learn new ways of making their business more efficient. LRA is committed to going above and beyond for our members and community. SOURCE Southern California Gas Company MEDIA CONTACT: Denise Campos, Office of Media and Public Information, SoCalGas, (213) 244-2442, dcampos@socalgas.

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Numbers may be approximate. Sempra Infrastructure Partners and its subsidiaries, and the Sempra Texas utilities (Oncor and Sharyland Utilities) are not the same companies as the Sempra California utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, nor are they regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).