PILLAR: Growing
AGENDA DATE: January 14, 2026
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 1, 3
DEPARTMENT: Office of Economic Development
PRIORITY: Targeted Economic Growth
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SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the establishment of a City Council District 1 and City Council District 3 Food Truck Incubator Program in accordance with the Program Statement (Exhibit A) to provide grant funding from discretionary allocation from the ARPA Redevelopment Fund to vendors selected pursuant to solicitation BAZ25-00027745, for food truck incubator programs within City Council District 1 and City Council District 3 to support the preparation of local small businesses to own and operate a food truck, in accordance with the Economic Development Incentive Policy - Financing: This action has no cost consideration to the City (see Fiscal Information)
*In alignment with Economic Development Incentive Policy.
Body
BACKGROUND
The City of Dallas Economic Development Incentive Policy adopted by City Council on January 25, 2023, by Resolution No. 23-0220, and amended by Resolution No. 25-0162 on January 22, 2025, authorizes the establishment of City Council District-specific Small Business Programs (Section 3.2). This section of the Incentive Policy enables City Council Members to create targeted small business programs to enhance small business opportunities in a specific part or the entirety of one or more City Council Districts, provided they have identified discretionary funds to support such a program. Upon City Council approval of a program statement, the program becomes part of the City’s Economic Development Incentive Policy.
City Councilmember Zarin Gracey (Council District 3) has identified $250,000.00 in discretionary funds from the City Council District 3 allocation of the ARPA Redevelopment Fund to be used to support the creation and implementation of a Food Truck Incubator Program (“Food Truck Program”) specifically for City Council District 1 and City Council District 3. The intent of the Food Truck Program is to provide City grant funds to qualified vendors to operate food truck incubator programs within City Council Districts 1 and 3 to support the preparation of local small businesses to own and operate a food truck business.
To facilitate the implementation of a Food Truck Program, the City of Dallas Office of Procurement Services issued a Request for Proposals on June 5, 2025 to identify qualified vendors to operate a food truck program. After review and scoring, two separate entities have been identified as a vendor (“Vendor”) with one selected specifically for Council District 1 and one selected specifically for Council District 3. On January 14, 2026, the City Council will also consider a separate agenda item to approve the selected Vendors.
The Food Truck Program will substantially operate in Council District 1 or Council District 3 by offering classroom sessions within the identified geography. Additionally, preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate business activity or reside in Council District 1 or Council District 3.
The Food Truck Program will be a 14-week cohort-based initiative, with cohorts occurring multiple times throughout the year. The Food Truck Program will provide training, mentorship, and hands-on experience preparing and serving food from licensed food trucks to qualified program participants.
The Food Truck Program will provide participants (i.e. small businesses) the following support:
• Business planning, financial literacy, and marketing instruction
• Regulatory training and certification support in compliance with Dallas City Code Chapter 17 and Senate Bill 1008
• Access to a licensed food truck (via a Memorandum of Understanding or other method).
• Access to a commissary kitchen within Dallas County
• Mentorship from existing food truck operators
For each cohort, at least one in-person workshop will be held on a food truck, and at least one workshop will be held at a commissary kitchen.
For Council District 1, a minimum of five program participants will be enrolled in each cohort, and there will be a total of six total cohorts (supporting an estimated total of 30 participants).
For Council District 3, a minimum of ten program participants will be enrolled in each cohort, and there will be a total of two cohorts (supporting an estimated total of 20 participants).
Vendors shall select program participants that meet the following requirements:
• Be an early-stage or home-based food entrepreneur
• Commit to attending all sessions and completing permitting steps
• Not a current licensed food truck owner or operator
• Preference given to those who either reside in Council District 1 or 3 or are a Council District 1 or 3 based business
Vendor success will be evaluated using the following indicators:
• 75% minimum participant retention
• Of the retained students, 80% program completion rate
• A minimum of 50% of enrolled participants must obtain at least one of the eligible certifications listed in the Program Statement.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On February 28, 2024, the City Council authorized the transfer and reallocation of ARPA funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury for the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to the ARPA Redevelopment multi-year fund to provide assistance with completing projects by Resolution No. 24-0315.
The Economic Development Committee was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on January 6, 2026.
FISCAL INFORMATION
This action has no cost consideration to the City. The cost for this item will be approved separately.