The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors recently approved a new round of grants to help microfood businesses that have not received assistance from the County COVID-19-relief programs in the past 12 months.
Donor Name: County of San Mateo
State: California
County: San Mateo County (CA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 12/17/2021
Size of the Grant: $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000
Details:
The Microfood Business Grant Program will provide grants to each selected business, depending on the type of business. Qualifying establishments can use the funds to offset losses in revenue and past debt due to the COVID-19 pandemic state shutdown orders beginning in March 2020, ensure continued operation, and assist in covering current business operating expenses.
Funding Information
$2,500, $5,000 or $10,000 each to qualifying and selected microfood business:
- $2,500 – cottage food operators
- $5,000 – caterers, food trucks and food carts
- $10,000 – commissaries or incubator kitchens
The funding must be used to ensure continued operation or assist in covering current business operating expenses, including, for example: current or past rent, payroll, supplies and other ongoing obligations.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible under the County’s small business assistance program, a business must meet all the following criteria:
- Currently operates a small food service business and has lawfully operated since before January 1, 2021;
- Provides food service or sale of food or beverage-related goods as of the time of the grant application;
- As of the time of the grant application, has an active permit from County Environmental Health Services (EHS) in any of the following Fee (PE) Categories: cottage food operators: PE 1590 and 1591; caterers: PE 1551, food trucks: PE 1542 and 1543; food carts: PE 1540 and 1541, or commissaries and incubator kitchens: PE 1550.
- Owner of business must either live in San Mateo County or operate their business primarily in San Mateo County. In cases of non-sole proprietorship for businesses that are not operated in San Mateo County, 50% or more of business ownership must be comprised of residents of San Mateo County;
- Business owner has demonstrated that the business has been negatively economically impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency (including due to declines in revenues, or impacts of periods of business closure or diminished operating capacity);
- Owns no more than five qualifying businesses within the jurisdictional boundaries of San Mateo County. (Applicants with multiple businesses and/or permits may submit an application for each qualifying business, however applicants will only be eligible for one grant from this program).
- Is in full compliance with all applicable regulations for the business, including but not limited to the following: County EHS requirements, inclusive of a Food Placarding System “PASS” rating if applicable, County/City planning and building requirements;
- State/County/City business and other licenses required by law;
- State and local minimum wage requirements; and
- Owner of business possesses and presents a copy of government-issued photo identification
Businesses that have changed ownership since January 1, 2021, and otherwise meet the criteria are eligible.
Priority will be given to applicants who are members of a household that had a 2020 gross household income at or below 100% of Area Median Income (“AMI”) (excluding applicants applying as commissaries and incubator kitchens), as demonstrated by tax returns, with AMI household data as follows:
- Household of 1: $121,800
- Household of 2: $139,200
- Household of 3: $156,600
- Household of 4: $174,000
- Household of 5: $188,000
- Household of 6: $201,900
- Household of 7: $215,800
- Household of 8: $229,700
For more information, visit Microfood Business Grant.
