City Council Considers Grant Program For Restaurants

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Establishing a grant program to help a restaurant community decimated by restrictions laid out in Contra Costa County COVID-19-related health orders is set to be discussed Tuesday night by the Walnut Creek City Council.

Last week, the city's Rebound Ad Hoc Committee dedicated to helping local businesses survive the pandemic recommended the restaurant grant program.

A city staff report says, "Tightening of the Contra Costa County stay-at-home orders effective Dec. 6, 2020 through Jan. 4, 2021 are causing extreme hardship and threatening the survival of many businesses .... Restaurants have been especially hard hit with operations deeply constrained by the health orders." No on-premesis dining, indoors or outdoors, is allowed, only takeout or delivery.

Walnut Creek is a foodie hub in the East Bay, with 117 eating and/or drinking establishments in the downtown area alone, more than 50 of them taking part in the city's Rebound program.

Other East Bay communities have established direct grant program, with anywhere from $250,000 to $1 million set aside for grants of $5,000 to $10,000 to the individual restaurants.

Tuesday night's council meeting begins at 6 p.m.; to watch the virtual meeting, go to will be shown online.

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