San Mateo Businesses Eligible For COVID Relief: Board Of Supes

SAN MATEO, CA — San Mateo small businesses received a boost on Tuesday when the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved a $2.8 million COVID-19 relief package targeted at small-scale establishments like food truck operators, home-based chefs and other small businesses.

The package was split into three parts. First, a $500,000 micro-food business grant program will distribute funds to cottage food operators, caterers, food truck and food cart operators, and commissaries or incubator kitchens.

Second, a program for home-based chefs that has $238,000 in seed funding will allow those chefs to legally make and sell food directly to consumers. Chefs can apply for grants of up to $2,500.

Supervisor Don Horsley said he is excited to see how the community responds to the project.

“The County is making it easy for people to participate, by offering a grant program to help home chefs start up their ovens,” Horsley said. “I look forward to an incredible array of these microenterprise home kitchens and hope to eventually visit one myself for a delicious meal.”

Lastly, $2 million was allocated to the small business assistance program for a fresh round of funding for small businesses in the county affected by the pandemic that didn’t receive prior relief. Businesses can apply for grants of up to $10,000.

Information about Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations, including instructions on how to apply for a permit, can be found at smchealth.org/microkitchen.

Application information for the Micro Food Business Grant Program and 2021 SMC Strong Small Business Assistance Program will soon be available at www.smcstrong.org.