Business
El Pollo Loco Creates Hispanic Heritage Month Grant Initiative to Support Latina Small Businesses
‘El Pollo Local Grants’ Infuses $100,000 Directly to Latina Business Community and Encourages Greater Los Angeles to Join Effort COSTA MESA, Calif., Sept. 15,
About this update from El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"‘El Pollo Local Grants’ Infuses $100,000 Directly to Latina Business Community and Encourages Greater Los Angeles to Join Effort\nCOSTA MESA, Calif., Sept. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“El Pollo Loco” or “Company”) (Nasdaq: LOCO), the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, honors its Hispanic heritage and Los Angeles roots by committing to support Latina-owned small businesses across Los Angeles during Hispanic Heritage Month as a way to give back to the communities that shaped and influenced the brand.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ‘El Pollo Local Grants’ Infuses $100,000 Directly to Latina Business Community and Encourages Greater Los Angeles to Join Effort\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n The Hispanic community in the United States, particularly in El Pollo Loco’s hometown of Los Angeles, is among the hardest hit by the current pandemic. According to the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative Survey, nearly two-thirds of Latinx-owned businesses say they will not be able to continue operating beyond six months if current conditions continue1. In fact, Hispanic women have been more significantly impacted by job loss than any other demographic2—which inspired the creation of the El Pollo Local Grants program, a commitment of $100,000 in grant money for Latina-owned businesses in Los Angeles. As part of the grant program, El Pollo Loco is encouraging Los Angeles-based customers, businesses and community members to stand with them and take action—and reach even more local small businesses by making donations through the Go Fund Me platform. For every additional $10,000 raised through this campaign, El Pollo Local Grants will help another Latina-owned business stay open. “This year has been unlike any other, leaving Latina-owned businesses disproportionately impacted,” said Bernard Acoca, President and Chief Executive Officer at El Pollo Loco. “Given the critical role brands are expected to play during the pandemic and on the heels of Hispanic Heritage Month, we felt compelled to find a way to support the people and city we call home.” Funding Latina Food JefasAs part of El Pollo Local Grants, the company teamed up with #WeAllGrow Latina to connect with the community and create a first-of-its-kind nationwide business directory of Latina-owned small businesses in the food and restaurant s...