THANK YOU to everyone wanting to support La Cocina’s community during this health + economic crisis.
Below are ways we’re supporting our entrepreneurs + how you can help.
The most positive thing that has come from this moment is the kindness, generosity + community so evident in the support we’re building for each other.
By the end of March, 100% of La Cocina-born businesses had lost 70% of their sales.
86% of La Cocina entrepreneurs had regular employees. By the end of March, 90% of those businesses had to lay off or furlough their entire staff.
For 68% of La Cocina businesses, including those in pre-incubation and incubation, their business is their full-time job. For 56%, their business is their entire family’s sole source of income. As restaurants have been allowed to do takeout and delivery, some entrepreneurs have found revenue. Fifty percent of entrepreneurs are selling again, but some are only making 10% of their pre-Covid sales.
As a nation, we lack the structural support systems to properly care for hourly workers and small business owners. It’s time to advocate together for immediate support and change.
Click to read this response by Geetika Agrawal on Aug. 12, 2020
Our work to date:
Encourage businesses to prioritize health, safety, and security.
We reworked our model so our kitchen can serve as many businesses that need it, while complying with the social distancing measures.
Beginning February 2020, we waived kitchen fees for La Cocina businesses, reducing $400K in bills for entrepreneurs.
We supported businesses in developing Covid Healthy & Safety Plans to keep them safe and operable.
Click to watch Thrillist segment on our Covid-19 response efforts.
Support entrepreneurs in securing rent abatement, loan deferment + employee assistance.
We believe rent abatement is the only way businesses are going to be able to make a come back.
We waived rent to businesses in our Municipal Marketplace and secured pro bono lawyers and real estate experts to support 23 entrepreneurs with 32 Bay-Area commercial leases.
La Cocina staff remains closely connected to the City of San Francisco and the Office of Small Business and takes part in weekly calls to ensure that all updates to permit and tax deadlines gets communicated quickly (and bilingually) to all entrepreneurs.
Assisted entrepreneurs with navigating the complex process of EDD, CARES, PPP, and EIDL loans and submitting grants.
15 of 24 entrepreneurs who applied for a PPP loan received one.
Of the 500+ grant applications submitted, 13 businesses received funding.
Of the 23 Restaurant Relief Act grant applications submitted, 13 received funding totaling $4.3MM in funding.
Created the La Cocina Emergency Relief Fund for active + eligible entrepreneurs.
With your support, we raised $912K for 60 entrepreneurs to cover basic expenses. The relief fund ended Dec. 31, 2020, and La Cocina-born businesses will need your continued support to brace for the pandemic’s lasting economic impact.
Created new revenue streams for businesses, generating $4M+.
We launched a community food box program where 9o% of the proceeds went to participating businesses.
We secured partnerships to connect entrepreneurs with $3M in meal service for vulnerable community members.
We ramped up our gift box production featuring La Cocina CPG businesses and introduced a nationally shipped snack box.
Click to watch ABC7 segment on our food box program
In the first year, we conducted weekly Town Halls with entrepreneurs to relay Covid updates, provide curriculum and create community. We redesigned our curriculum, launching Learning Circles to support businesses survival and innovation during the pandemic.
How you can help:
Help our organization support the survival and regeneration of a community of more than 70+ small, women-owned businesses.
La Cocina entrepreneurs know how we can best support them. Some businesses faced with laying off staff are hosting Go Fund Me campaigns. Others continue to do what they love: Feed our community.
Send friends + family a care package ($35 -$150) of delicious goodies while providing a lifeline to La Cocina businesses. Does the recipient love to cook? Add our We Are La Cocina cookbook to your order!