Good Food Zones
The Good Food Zones Microgrants Pilot Program (GFZ) is an initiative by the City of Los Angeles in partnership with Los Angeles Food Policy Council. The program aims to expand access to healthy foods in designated Good Food Zones within the City of Los Angeles while increasing economic opportunities and jobs for low-income residents. This initiative supports food-centered businesses in overcoming challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as supply chain disruptions and economic hardships, which have worsened food access in vulnerable neighborhoods. Funds are made available by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The Good Food Zone pilot program began late summer 2024 and is slated to end by early fall 2026. The pilot provides businesses with $25,000 microgrant as well as light technical assistance from our Healthy Retail Team, connections to their respective Business Source Centers, and other technical assistance providers to support them in meeting the Good Food Zone baseline and discretionary standards.
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Good Food Zones
This grant application is now closed. Eligible businesses participating in the Good Food Zones Program met the minimum mandatory requirements to be considered eligible.
Good Food Business Required Guidelines
The following guidelines are mandatory for all participants and form the core of the Good Food Zone Standard. Recipients will receive one-on-one technical assistance to achieve this standard.
To continue in the program, businesses agree to work with their designated technical assistance provider on the following guidelines:
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Develop a written Mission Statement expressing commitment to community health
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Use in-store signage to mark healthy food products and healthy food messaging
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Show a portion of food spending sourced from verified local, sustainable, fair trade, or organic products
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Show a portion of food spending sourced from verified minority and women-owned businesses
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Commit to local hire for new employees or replacements
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Commit to hiring individuals with barriers to employment (e.g., transitional-age youth, formerly incarcerated)
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Commitment to sustainable buildings and facilities management through an assessment for energy efficiency and utilizing grants for energy efficient equipment
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Satisfactory Food Official Inspection Report (FOIR) as applicable
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Compliance with the California Retail Food Code
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Ensure prominent display of the Department of Public Health Letter Grade as applicable
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Payment of minimum wages to employees (as of July 1, 2023, the minimum wage rate is $16.78)
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Implementation of waste source separation and enrollment in organic waste recycling, as mandated by state law (AB 1826 Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling)
Neighborhood Markets
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Increase floor space dedicated to healthy foods, that may include dry goods, grains, breads, dairy, fresh produce, fresh meats, poultry, fish, and frozen foods, demonstrating that healthy food is core to the business.
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Accept CalFresh and/or WIC or be in the process of applying if eligible
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Implement healthy checkout practices by prominently featuring healthy food at the front of the business
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Keep soda in the designated soda aisle and place tobacco products behind the checkout counter
Restaurants/Cafes/Bakeries
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Increase menu offerings dedicated to healthy foods, that may include:
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Vegan or vegetarian options
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Fresh produce
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Organic ingredients and/or
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Meals with less unhealthy fats, sugar, and sodium
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Demonstrating that healthy food is core to the business.
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Implement healthy foods promotion and marketing practices by:
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Indicating healthy menu options (i.e. gluten-free, vegetarian, low sodium, etc) directly on menus.
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Running specials and promotions on new healthy menu items.
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Good Food Business Discretionary Guidelines
While not obligatory, the following discretionary guidelines offer additional recommendations and flexibility to participants.
Each participating business is required to choose at least two discretionary guidelines to focus on. This allows for customization and continuous improvement, empowering businesses to enhance their operations throughout the program.
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Commit to perform annual food waste audits/assessments and establish goals
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Implement an education/outreach program, including activities like cooking demonstrations, workshops, produce sampling, etc.
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Increase floor space or product portfolio to 50% following LA County Department of Public Health standards for consumer packaged goods (CPG) or Choose Health LA restaurants.
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Develop plan to enhance customer experience and overall safety (i.e. earthquake safety considerations and plan; lighting, etc.)
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Implement an employee benefit system or formalize practices such as an employee handbook, paid time off, sick time, etc.
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Establish a proactive zero-waste program.
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Contribute to the community through annual or bi-annual give-back initiatives (community benefits can be in the form of in-kind contributions).
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Engage meaningfully with the community by providing programs and opportunities for career development.
$25,000 for Healthy Food Businesses
To be eligible for a grant under this Request For Applications, businesses applying for the Good Food Zones Micro Grant must meet the minimum mandatory requirements to be considered eligible.
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Must be a food-centered business such as corner stores, neighborhood markets, restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores.
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Must be a for-profit business.
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Must be located within a designated Good Food Zone .
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Must have actively been in business on or before March 1, 2020.
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Annual revenue cannot exceed $1 million.
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You must have an active Business Tax Registration Certificate (BTRC) with the City of Los Angeles that is current and in good standing.
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Must have a State of California seller's permit.
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Must have an LA County Department of Public Health Food Handlers Permit.
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Must be operating from a commercial location and have a valid commercial lease (home-based businesses are not eligible).
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Must identify the negative economic impact resulting from COVID-19 and demonstrate that the grant funds will be used for recovery from the pandemic.
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Must be in good standing with the Secretary of State, if applicable.
The Good Food Zones
The City of Los Angeles chose the two zones to pilot the program based on several metrics including but not limited to: high levels of food insecurity, persistent unemployment and underemployment, low and moderate household income earnings, and neighborhood instability.
LAPFC, with support of a Review Committee made up of experts from the Good Food Economy Working Group, reviewed applications from over 50 businesses. The committee recommended 15 businesses in the South LA Good Food Pilot zone and 15 businesses in the San Fernando Valley Good Food Pilot zone to the City of LA. We’re excited to be working with these 30 businesses who are committed to providing their communities with healthy, affordable, sustainable, and fair food in alignment with the Good Food Zone standards.
Reporting Expectations
All businesses selected to receive the grant will be required to track and maintain receipts of purchases and other relevant records. These records must be submitted to the City of Los Angeles on a regular basis. Additionally, businesses must schedule site visits for City of LA staff and Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC) staff to review progress.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Submissions are due October 14, 2024
Micro Grant Request for Applications Open
Solicitud de aplicaciones para micro subsidios abierto
Virtual Office Hours
We would like to respond to any questions you may have about the application. Please submit them by email to goodfoodzones@goodfoodla.org before Friday, September 6 to ensure you will receive a response before the application deadline.
Horario de oficina virtual
Nos gustaría responder cualquier pregunta que pueda tener sobre la aplicación. Escribanos a goodfoodzones@goodfoodla.org antes del viernes 6 de septiembre para asegurarse de recibir una respuesta antes de la fecha límite de solicitud.
Virtual Office Hours
We would like to respond to any questions you may have about the application. Please submit them by email to goodfoodzones@goodfoodla.org before Friday, September 6 to ensure you will receive a response before the application deadline.
Horario de oficina virtual
Nos gustaría responder cualquier pregunta que pueda tener sobre la aplicación. Escribanos a goodfoodzones@goodfoodla.org antes del viernes 6 de septiembre para asegurarse de recibir una respuesta antes de la fecha límite de solicitud.
Join us at Councilmember Curren Price’s District Office to learn about how to apply. Register for the information session on eventbrite.
Reúnase con nosotros en la oficina de distrito del concejal Curren Price para saber cómo presentar la solicitud. Regístrate para la sesión informativa en eventbrite.
Join us on September 5th at El Nido Family Center to learn about how to apply. Register for the information session on eventbrite.
Únase con nosotros este 5 de septiembre en El Nido Family Center para aprender como aplicar al subsidio. Regístrate para la sesión informativa en eventbrite.
Micro Grant Applications Due
Fecha de vencimiento para la solicitud de los subsidios
Micro Grant Applications Due
Fecha de vencimiento para la solicitud de los subsidios
Public Announcement - Award Ceremony
Anuncio Público - Ceremonia de entrega de subsidios
HOW TO APPLY
1. Review the Full Details
Review the full eligibility requirements and application questions. This overview video provides additional information about the application's eligibility requirements.
2. Choose a Fully Written or
Video Submission
Applicants have the option to submit fully written responses to the application questions or combination of written and video recorded responses. Applicants can record responses on their own time and upload completed videos to the Google Form where appropriate.
3. Fill Out the Online
Application
The English version of the application is available through the button below. The application deadline is Monday, October 14, 2024 at 11:59PM.
Once your application has been submitted through the google form by the due date you will receive a confirmation email.
about the grantmakers
City of Los Angeles Economic Workforce Development Department (EWDD):
The Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) goal is to steer economic development in a manner that yields thriving businesses, and creates job training and career opportunities for the City of Los Angeles. We work every day to deliver a strong and committed workforce, sustainable neighborhoods and profitable communities throughout Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC):
LAFPC works to ensure food is healthy, affordable, fair and sustainable for all. We believe Good Food for All is possible and that all communities deserve access to good food, grown in a way that respects people and the planet. We work to create a local food system free from hunger, rooted in equity and access, supportive of farmers and food workers, and guided by principles of environmental stewardship and regeneration. To achieve our vision of Good Food for All, we catalyze, coordinate and connect people across the LA region, including government, business and community groups working on food.
We reside, work, and cultivate food
on unceded Indigenous homelands.
We acknowledge and honor the descendants of the Tongva, Kizh, and Gabrieleño peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles Basin and the Southern Channel Islands). We pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
As part of a greater foodshed, we would also like to pay respect to and honor the Chumash, Tataviam, Serrano, Kitanemuk, ʔíviĨuqaletem, Acjachemen, Payómkawichum, and any other tribal group possibly not mentioned. As a Food Policy Council for Los Angeles we recognize this land acknowledgment is limited and engagement is an ongoing process of learning and accountability. To learn more about these First Nations, visit here.