Texas Restaurant Relief Fund awards grants to Hill Country restaurants impacted by flooding

Texas Restaurant Relief Fund awards grants to Hill Country restaurants impacted by flooding

Seven independent restaurants receive recovery assistance following Hill Country flooding

AUSTIN, TX (January 22, 2026) - The Texas Restaurant Association and Texas Restaurant Foundation have awarded $45,000 in grants through the Texas Restaurant Relief Fund to independent restaurants impacted by flooding across the Texas Hill Country.

The Texas Restaurant Relief Fund provides direct financial assistance to independently owned restaurants facing physical damage or economic hardship as a result of natural disasters. These one-time grants are designed to help operators stabilize operations, recover losses and support employees during the recovery process.

"Texas restaurants are resilient, but disasters like the Hill Country flooding can push even the strongest operators to the brink," Heather Pickett, Executive Director of the Texas Restaurant Foundation said. "Through the Texas Restaurant Relief Fund, we are able to deliver timely, meaningful support to independent restaurants when they need it most. These grants are about helping operators recover, reopen, and continue serving their communities while supporting the employees who depend on them."

The grant recipients included: Grape Juice, The Lakehouse, Copper Pot, Vecino's Cafe, Carte & Co, Taco to Go and Gristmill.

Grant funds may be used for essential recovery needs such as payroll and employee retention, emergency repairs or cleanup, replacement of lost inventory or equipment, rent and utilities, and costs associated with temporary closure or reopening.

"Independent restaurants are cornerstones of their communities and vital drivers of local economies," Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, said. "When disaster strikes, it's critical that our industry comes together to support operators and their teams. The Texas Restaurant Relief Fund reflects our commitment to helping restaurants weather challenges and continue doing what they do best, serving Texans."

To qualify for assistance, grant applicants must be independently owned restaurants, either single-unit operations or small local groups, physically located in a county impacted by Hill Country flooding. Applicants must have experienced financial hardship or physical damage directly related to the flooding and be currently operating, temporarily closed due to the disaster, or actively working to reopen. Completion of the full online application and submission of required documentation are also required.


ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
Formed in 1937, the Texas Restaurant Association serves as the advocate and indispensable resource for the foodservice industry in Texas. As a leading business association, the TRA represents the state's $138 billion restaurant industry, which encompasses more than 57,000 locations and a workforce of over 1.4 million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Foundation, the workforce development arm of the TRA, the association proudly continues to protect, advance, and educate a growing industry as the TRA enters its 88th year. For more information, please visit www.txrestaurant.org.

ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT FOUNDATION
Founded in 1995 as the charitable arm of the Texas Restaurant Association, the Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF) is dedicated to building and strengthening the future of the restaurant industry through education, workforce development, and scholarships. TRF oversees Texas ProStart, a premier culinary and restaurant management training program reaching over 34,000 high school students in 260+ schools statewide. The foundation also leads industry-driven initiatives such as the TX Restaurant Relief Fund, which has provided millions in crisis support, and innovative workforce development programs that connect businesses with trained, job-ready talent. These include Second Chances, which helps justice-involved individuals reenter the workforce, and specialized training initiatives designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Since its founding, TRF has awarded over $3 million in scholarships to aspiring culinary and hospitality professionals.