Department of Environmental Health

             ASSISTANCE WITH STARTING YOUR MICROENTERPRISE HOME KITCHEN OPERATION (MEHKO)

The Cook Alliance, a MEHKO advocacy non-profit active in California, collaborates with California jurisdictions on a variety of MEHKO-related activities. The Cook Alliance has created a free, virtual MEHKO-specific training course for current and prospective MEHKO operators called Cook Academy and is currently accepting applications for their September cohort. People who successfully complete the Cook Academy course are eligible for a $3,000 grant from The Cook Alliance to help them with their MEHKO business; 3 units of college credit are also available. At this time, only people who reside in counties that have implemented MEHKOs are able to participate in the Cook Academy course.The application period for the fall cohort is now open. Those who apply by the early deadline of July 31st will receive first priority, but rolling admissions continue thereafter. 
                                                                                                                       COOK ALLIANCE ACADEMY FLIER

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEHKO ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
AB 178 GRANTS TO LOCAL CODE ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

BACKGROUND
In June 2023, the State of California appropriated funding in accordance with Assembly Bill AB 178 – Budget Act of 2022, to assist local health departments and city code enforcement implement programs relating to Micro Enterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) and other in-home retail food preparation and sales.  California’s Micro Enterprise Home Kitchen Operations program was established by AB 626 (2018).  This grant program is being administered by CCDEH under the direction of the California Workforce Development Board (WDB).
$391,800 will be made available to city code enforcement to reimburse unrecovered expenses incurred by cities for enforcement of California MEHKO law or other state or local laws and ordinances related to in-home retail food preparation and sales.  The funds will be available on a reimbursement basis and will be disbursed until depleted.

Applicants may apply if they are able to document any unrecovered expenses over the period from June 7, 2023 through May 31, 2025. Documentation may include worksheets, timecards or internal budgets and financial reports.  The maximum award to a single jurisdiction is $20,000.00. 

The Workforce Development Board and/or CCDEH may require a financial review of records being provided by your jurisdiction to verify eligibility under this program.  The cost of a fiscal review shall be covered by the awardee.

FIRST GRANT OPTION
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEHKO ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
AB 178 GRANTS
LOCAL CODE ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES APPLICATION:  Local Code Enforcement Reimbursement Application (due May 31, 2025)

PURPOSE
The purpose of this state-funded grant program is to assist local health departments and city code enforcement agencies to apply for reimbursements for costs incurred from the development of application forms, permitting processes, and initial site inspections and for city code enforcement activities related to Micro Enterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) in accordance with Assembly Bill AB 178 – Budget Act of 2022. Funds are available during fiscal years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 to local governments for direct support in implementing the MEHKO program, including program development, public outreach, offsetting permit fees, and enforcement. This assistance will be augmented by technical assistance provided through the California Conference of Directors of Environmental health (CCDEH). This grant program is being administered by CCDEH under the direction of the California Workforce Development Board (WDB).

Based on a review of current and anticipated workload and available local funding mechanisms, $391,800.00 is being made available to city code enforcement agencies to reimburse unrecovered expenses incurred by cities for activities related to the enforcement of home kitchen laws and ordinances. The funds will be available on a reimbursement basis and will be disbursed until depleted, as approved by the WDB. Applicants may apply if they are able to document unrecovered enforcement expenses during the period from June 7, 2023 through May 31, 2025 as a first come, first serve process until funds are exhausted. The maximum award to a single jurisdiction is $20,000.00.