Chelsea Neighborhood Market & Food Business Grant Program
Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Community Funding Allocation, the City of Chelsea is launching Chelsea Neighborhood Market as part of a multidimensional strategy to increase economic opportunities for food businesses, strengthen partnerships with Chelsea-based food distributors, and improve food security.
Chelsea Neighborhood Market will offer a central location for local vendors to sell foods and ingredients, including but not limited to fresh and dried produce, meat, fish, dairy, oils, and spices. The Market will be open to the public, near residential neighborhoods, and within walking distance of public transportation. The Market site will comply with all applicable local, state, and federal health and safety requirements and generally acceptable quality standards.
Become a vendor at Chelsea Neighborhood Market
The City of Chelsea is looking for entrepreneurs and food businesses to become vendors at the Chelsea Neighborhood Market. The selected vendors will be responsible for all food and ingredient sourcing, purchasing, storage, and transportation to and from the market site. In addition, vendors will be responsible for setting up and taking down their market stalls each market day and managing all sales including EBT and WIC purchases.
Vendors will be expected to meet all requirements for health and safety standards. Vendors should source high-quality foods and ingredients that are familiar to the community, with a focus on sourcing from Chelsea-based and regional distributors and growers.
To support the launch of Chelsea Neighborhood Market and provide support for Chelsea residents to become Market vendors, the City of Chelsea allocated $100,000 to be disbursed over 3 years to the Chelsea Neighborhood Market and Food Business Grant Program. This grant opportunity is open to Chelsea-based food businesses and first-time entrepreneurs interested in becoming vendors at the Chelsea Neighborhood Market in 2023.
Chelsea Neighborhood Market Survey
What do you want to buy at the market? When do you want to shop? Let us know so we can make it happen! Take the survey at bit.ly/ChelseaMarketSurvey
Chelsea Neighborhood Market will offer a central location for local vendors to sell foods and ingredients, including but not limited to fresh and dried produce, meat, fish, dairy, oils, and spices. The Market will be open to the public, near residential neighborhoods, and within walking distance of public transportation. The Market site will comply with all applicable local, state, and federal health and safety requirements and generally acceptable quality standards.
Become a vendor at Chelsea Neighborhood Market
The City of Chelsea is looking for entrepreneurs and food businesses to become vendors at the Chelsea Neighborhood Market. The selected vendors will be responsible for all food and ingredient sourcing, purchasing, storage, and transportation to and from the market site. In addition, vendors will be responsible for setting up and taking down their market stalls each market day and managing all sales including EBT and WIC purchases.
Vendors will be expected to meet all requirements for health and safety standards. Vendors should source high-quality foods and ingredients that are familiar to the community, with a focus on sourcing from Chelsea-based and regional distributors and growers.
Vendors should be able to commit to consistently attending each market (2 per month) for a 1-year period. Exact dates, times, and location will be determined.
We are interested in all types of food vendors: produce, meat, seafood, grains, spices, oils, and other products. Prepared products must be prepared in a commercial kitchen that meets all health and safety standards.
Submit the vendor interest form here.
To support the launch of Chelsea Neighborhood Market and provide support for Chelsea residents to become Market vendors, the City of Chelsea allocated $100,000 to be disbursed over 3 years to the Chelsea Neighborhood Market and Food Business Grant Program. This grant opportunity is open to Chelsea-based food businesses and first-time entrepreneurs interested in becoming vendors at the Chelsea Neighborhood Market in 2023.
How to apply: Please submit completed application online or in-person at City Hall, 500 Broadway, Room 101. APPLICATIONS DUE JUNE 9, 2023.
For additional information about the grant, please call 311 (617-466-4209) or email Anna Bury (abury@chelseama.gov)
Chelsea Neighborhood Market Survey
What do you want to buy at the market? When do you want to shop? Let us know so we can make it happen! Take the survey at bit.ly/ChelseaMarketSurvey