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).
These funds will be distributed using two methods: to local code enforcement agencies as reimbursement grants, and to local Environmental Health agencies as entitlement / block grants.
Applicants may apply if they are able to document any unrecovered expenses over the time period that applies to their grant category (reimbursement or block/entitlement; please see the descriptions of each grant category below). Documentation may include worksheets, time cards or internal budgets and financial reports.
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 (due March 31, 2025)
PURPOSE
The purpose of this state-funded reimbursement grant program is to assist local (city and/or county) code enforcement agencies with costs incurred from activities related to Micro Enterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) in accordance with Assembly Bill AB 178 – Budget Act of 2022. Based on a review of current and anticipated workload and available local funding mechanisms, $391,800.00 Is being made available to local code enforcement agencies to reimburse unrecovered expenses incurred from 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. Code enforcement agency applicants may apply if they are able to document unrecovered enforcement expenses during the period from June 7, 2023 through May 31, 2025 through a first come, first serve process until funds are exhausted. The
maximum award to a single jurisdiction is $20,000.00.
SECOND GRANT OPTION
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEHKO ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
AB 178 GRANTS
LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT LETTER OF INTENT TO APPLY (due by January 16, 2024)
PURPOSE
The purpose of this state-funded grant program as described in the enabling legislation and the grant agreement between the Workforce Development Board (WDB) and CCDEH is to “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”. This grant program is being administered by CCDEH under the direction or the California Workforce Development Board (WDB).
Funds are available during fiscal years 2023/24 and 2024/25 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). Funding will be provided to qualifying local EH and code enforcement agencies that have applied for funding by or before the application deadline. This grant program is being administered by CCDEH under the direction of the California Workforce Development Board (WDB).
Grant allocation breakdown to the local retail food enforcement agencies is:
- 25% to local enforcement agencies with adopted MEHKO ordinance based on number of permitted MEHKOs as of December 31, 2022.
- 50% to local agencies in process of or considering approving a MEHKO ordinance.
- 25% to all local enforcement agencies across state based on total number of permitted retail food facilities, incorporating a maximum for very large jurisdictions and a base-minimum for smaller jurisdictions.
Local Environmental Health Departments may receive a small slice of the grant depending on what budget you are in using this tiered approach. CCDEH will get back to you on the allocation amount.
MEHKO Grant Funding FAQ's
For transparency regarding the use of public money, CCDEH shall publish information about the disbursement of the California Workforce Development Board MEHKO entitlement and reimbursement grants, including a list of grantees, amounts awarded to each grantee, and amounts disbursed to each grantee, on a publicly-accessible section of the CCDEH website. Information about the reimbursement grants, where money is made available on first-come, first-serve basis, shall be updated periodically and shall be maintained available on the publicly-accessible section of the CCDEH website. This information shall remain on the CCDEH website for twelve months after the end of the grant period.
Public Record MEHKO Allocations & Disbursements
Guide to CCDEH MEHKO Grant Allocation and Disbursement Tables
California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH)
Elizabeth Morgan, MPH, REHS
MEHKO Grant Management Consultant
(530) 251-6920 cell
Kendra Wise, MS, REHS
MEHKO Technical Consultant & Training
KendraWise@ccdeh.com
805.448.4321
