Commissary Kitchen Grant Application

City of Sumner Commissary Kitchen Grant Application

This grant program is administered by the City of Sumner Community Development Department located at 1104 Maple Street, Sumner, WA 98390. If you need assistance filling out this form call (253) 299-5524 or email ryanw@sumnerwa.gov.

Purpose

The purpose and intent of the grant is to assist in the construction of a commissary kitchen within the City of Sumner that caters to the needs of mobile food vendors (“food truck”). Commissary kitchens are critical to the food truck industry as they are required by the health department for most food trucks to operate. They offer commercial stoves, ovens, ranges, sinks, and most importantly refrigerator and freezer space. Currently, there are not enough commissary kitchens and capacity to service the demand that is in Pierce County and Sumner would be an ideal location for this type of service. A commissary kitchen would further economic development and business opportunity for food vendors in the area.

This grant is intended to promote independent businesses and not corporate chain or corporate franchises.

Funds Available

The city will be awarding one (1) grant for a maximum of $100,000. The source of the funds are from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Deadline:   June 1, 2022 (First Round)

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must have the experience and knowledge to successfully operate a commissary kitchen and could be current owners/operators of a commissary kitchen, restaurant owner/operator, food truck owner/operator, etc.
• Applicants may be a business/building owner interested in housing and running the facility who would partner with an operator.
• The business space must be located within the City of Sumner in accordance with the zoning laws and allowances, generally, in a commercial or industrial zone.
• Be an independent business and not a corporate chain or corporate franchise.
• New business owners must be graduates from the Pierce County Accelerator program.

Use of Funds

The Commissary Kitchen Grant is available for the following:

• Capital improvements for existing building spaces for tenant or owner occupied improvements such as construction, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, finishings, etc.
• Restaurant cooking equipment such as ranges, hoods, ovens, sinks, etc.
• Furniture, cabinetry, tables, etc. as needed for operation, office space, and customers
• Permit fees including hook-up charges, etc.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed and selected based on business experience and business plan, creditworthiness, and applicants will score higher if they are:

1. BIPOC, Women or Veteran owned business
2. Graduates of the Pierce County Accelerator program
3. Space can provide for safe overnight parking and storage of food trucks

Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel made up of the following:

• Sumner Main Street Association member
• Mobile vendor or restaurant owner/operator
• Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce
• Pierce County Economic Development
• City of Sumner Staff
• City of Sumner ARPA Committee Member

You will be notified within 21 days of the application deadline if you received the grant or not.

Grant Agreement

Grant recipients and the building owner will be required to sign a Grant Agreement that, among other things, will require the funds to be spent in accordance with the grant guidelines (see above) and agree to:

1. Require that the commissary kitchen be operated at market rates and rental fees with no price gouging.
2. Annual reporting and agree to auditing for first 5 years
3. Required to payback the grant if the business closes in less than 36 months.
4. City retains the ability to repossess any equipment purchased by the grant or to lien the property