To bolster the city's burgeoning sidewalk vending culture, Long Beach officials have made a public call for input from mobile food vending cart manufacturers. This comes as the city gears up for the second phase of its sidewalk vending support program, according to a press statement released on April 5th by the City of Long Beach.
The city, through its Request for Information (RFI), is probing the mobile food vending market to understand the offerings and pricing of carts, as well as anticipated delivery schedules. In an attempt to match sidewalk vending entrepreneurs with new opportunities, the information obtained from the RFI will help the city craft a strategy that aligns with Long Beach's Sidewalk Vending Ordinance. Vendors have until April 19, 2024, to submit their data on the Long Beach Buys portal, the statement outlined.
Building on the success of the City’s Sidewalk to Success program, up to 40 free carts are slated to be distributed to eligible local vending entrepreneurs. However, the final number hinges on the types of carts and the scope of program engagement. The RFI acquisition will guide Long Beach in its approach to secure the right vending carts, as reported by the city's announcement.
Additional icing on the cake for local vendors is the city's offer to cover the cost of business license and health permit fees and provide reimbursements for insurance during the first year of the ordinance. This initiative, which runs through Feb. 26, 2025, was included in the public notice.
Funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act, the Sidewalk to Success initiative is part of a wider economic and public health strategy designed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program also intersects with Long Beach's efforts to eliminate social and economic inequities in health outcomes, underscoring the city’s Racial and Reconciliation Initiative.
For any additional details or media inquiries, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services directs queries to Public Affairs Officer Jennifer Rice Epstein at 562.441.3590 or via her email address listed in the press statement.
