Free permits and $2,500 to start your cottage food business in San Mateo County
FoodThe Board of Supervisors approved a program that will provide free permits for the sale of home-cooked food with the opportunity to earn up to $50,000 annually. In addition, eligible families can access a $2,500 grant to start the business.By:: Univision, Jul 21, 2021 – 05:16 PM EDTReactShareLoading Video...
SAN MATTHEW, Calif. - Mrs. Adriana Ibáñez has been selling homemade food for more than three years, but like many people who, due to the coronavirus pandemic, had to look for a secondary source of income, she does it informally.
“The permit is very difficult, more than anything. We want to see if the San Mateo lock gives us the permit at no cost,” says the East Palo Alto resident.
While she cooks sopes, chicken tinga and other traditional Latin American dishes, Adriana tells Univision 14 News cameras that preparing food helped her pay her bills during the economic crisis brought on by covid-19.
"It went a little badly for me, but what I do, this selling food, gave me a little to pay bills and other expenses," explains the woman from Mexico.
To help enterprising women like Doña Adriana "come out of the shadows," the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved an economic stimulus program to help small businesses that will include a special item for so-called "home kitchens" that They operate illegally.
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2:34The new program, which is expected to go live between August and September, will allow people who sell homemade food to obtain a permit to operate for the next two years at no cost, and to have a maximum annual income of $50,000.
“What we've done is provide new economic opportunities for those who need them most, including women, immigrants and people of color,” said David Canepa, chairman of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
The official added that the coronavirus pandemic forced many families to enter the business of selling homemade food, however, most do so illegally. That is why, he points out, that this initiative will help them "come out of the shadows."
With an investment of just $300,000, the supervisors hope to make a big difference and open new avenues of income for residents affected by the economic crisis, mainly for "working families who have excellent cooks" and at the same time help "stimulate the economy." local".
Permits to operate the home kitchens will be provided free of charge throughout the two-year pilot program. But in addition, those who qualify will be able to receive a one-time grant of $2,500 to start the business.
Canepa explained that $65,000 of the total investment will be set aside for this purpose.