Dine Local.

Support and Resources for LA County’s Food-Serving Businesses

Apply Now

Support for the Hospitality Industry.

LA County is committed to helping local, customer-serving food businesses—including brick-and-mortar restaurants, sidewalk vendors, food trucks, and others—start up, grow, and thrive. Food businesses play a critical role in the hospitality industry, local economy, and cultural experience of Los Angeles—more important than ever with the upcoming global sports and entertainment events.

Dine Local is part of the Shop Local LA County campaign and offers support and resources for food-serving businesses to increase their customer base and revenue, strengthen operations and compliance, and advance sustainability and climate resilience. Current support and resources are available thanks to the LA County Departments of Economic Opportunity, Public Social Services, Public Works, and Chief Sustainability Office.

Learn about the latest support and resources available. More resources will be added as they become available—check back frequently!

Resources

✳︎

Incentives

✳︎

Assistance

✳︎

Giveaways

✳︎

Resources ✳︎ Incentives ✳︎ Assistance ✳︎ Giveaways ✳︎

  • Serve CalFresh Recipients

    Increase sales by participating in the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program and offer hot meals to CalFresh EBT cardholders. Only select zip codes qualify. Those that express interest in the application will be invited to an informational webinar.

    Learn More

  • Get Compostable Foodware

    Single-use items provided to customers in the County must be either compostable or recyclable. Get help by accessing free compostable foodware. Must be located in an unincorporated area of the County. While supplies last!

    Compliance Guide

  • Square Contactless Card Reader

    Get a free Square Reader (2nd generation) to accept contactless cards, Apple Pay, and chip cards on the go or at your counter. (When used with other apps, it can also be used to accept EBT Payments.) Available while supplies last.

    About Product

  • Get Personal Protective Equipment

    Get free PPE, including sanitizer, masks, gloves, and more! Business must be located in an unincorporated area of the County, have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and have opened prior to March 2023. Available while supplies last.

    Contact for Questions

  • Workforce Hiring, Training Services, and Financial Incentives

    Get no-cost help from DEO’s network of America’s Job Centers of CA (AJCC) to hire, train, and pay for employees. Eligibility and requirements vary by program. Those that express interest in the application will be contacted by an AJCC services representative.

    Learn More

General Basic Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements vary for each resource offered. Additional requirements and details specific to each program can be found below in the FAQ section. To facilitate the application process, the application includes a series of questions to help determine eligibility. After an application is submitted and reviewed, applicants will be notified of the resources their business qualifies for. Below are general requirements and eligibility criteria for all resources:

    • Consumer-facing, food-serving businesses 

    • Located and operating within Los Angeles County  

    • Independently owned and currently operating  

    • Fewer than 100 employees  

    • Gross average annual revenue of $6 million or less  

    • Legal entity in good standing with the California Secretary of State (or sole proprietor)  

    • Valid CA Seller’s Permit ID  

    • Valid Facility ID issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (or equivalent ID if operating in the Cities of Pasadena, Long Beach, or Vernon)

    • Other requirements may apply—please refer to FAQ

  • The following entities are not eligible:  

    • Caterers without permanent publicly accessible storefronts  

    • Home-based businesses  

    • Online-only businesses  

    • Cottage Food Operations or Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations  

    • Corporate-owned franchises  

    • Private or social clubs  

    • Liquor stores, nightclubs, wine bars, or breweries (unless classified as a food facility serving food)  

    • Wholesalers or non-retail businesses  

    • Debarred or suspended entities  

    • Businesses owned by individuals under the age of 18  

    • Other businesses may be deemed ineligible based on information submitted in the application.  

APPLY NOW

FAQ

And Additional Program-Specific Eligibility Requirements

  • All LA County businesses that express interest on the Dine Local application form in receiving workforce development support will be connected to a dedicated America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) services representative who will share available services and incentives depending on each business’s needs. Requirements vary by program.

  • FOR RESTAURANTS ONLY. Only certain zip codes are eligible to participate. Eligible zip codes can be found here: RMP Service Area.

    Please visit the California Department of Public Social Services for additional requirements. You can also email the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services (DPSS) at RestaurantMealsProgram@dpss.lacounty.gov‍  ‍with any questions you may have.

  • Yes! If you express interest in the Dine Local application form in participating in the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program, you will be invited to an informational webinar to learn more details and the process of becoming an RMP partner.

    Those that decide to move forward with the process of becoming a partner will need to submit documentation directly to the CA Department of Social Services. One-on-one application assistance will also be available through DEO’s Office of Small Business.

  • Free compostable foodware items will be awarded to applicants operating in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County through a lottery system. This is only available to restaurants, food trucks, and other similar consumer-facing businesses that service clients a minimum of 5 days a week. Street vendors and caterers are not eligible for this giveaway. 

  • Interested businesses can select a bundle of select items of their choosing via the Dine Local application. Awarded businesses will be contacted and asked to pick up their bundle of compliant common foodware items from the Department of Public Works Alhambra office, located at 417 Date Ave. 3rd floor, Alhambra, CA 91803, during specific times and dates to be provided.

    Bundles contain some or all the following items (due to availability constraints, some of the items may look different from those pictured on application): 

    • World Centric: 8" Kraft Paper Straw

    • Vegware: 6.5” Forks (Compostable CPLA) 

    • Vegware: 6.5” Knives (Compostable CPLA) 

    • Vegware: 6.5” Spoons (Compostable CPLA) 

    • Vanguard: 9" Plates (Compostable)

    • Vegware: 16oz Round Deli Containers and Lids (PLA) 

    • Responsible Products: 8" x 8" x 3" Clamshells Single Compartment (Compostable) 

    • ECO Products: 66oz Food Boxes #3 (Compostable) 

    • InnoPak: 16oz Clear Cold Cups (Compostable) 

    • World Centric: 9-24oz Flat Lids for Clear Cold Cups (Compostable) 

    • InnoPak: 16oz White Hot Cups (Compostable)

    • World Centric: 10-20oz White Lids for Hot Cups (Compostable)

    DEADLINE TO APPLY IS APRIL 20, 2026.

  • All LA County food-serving businesses are eligble to receive a Square Card Reader. But please note, applicants must have a valid California Seller’s Permit.

    Awardees will be selected via a blind lottery system.

  • Applicants must be located in the unincorporated areas of LA County, have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, have opened their business location prior to March 2023, and not have received compimentary PPE before through DEO’s Safer@Work program.

    Awardees will be selected via a blind lottery system. Available until supplies last.

    Those that qualify will be notified to pick up awarded PPE from DEO’s Office of Small Business located at 4716 E. Cesar E. Chavez, Los Angeles 90022. Specific dates and times will be provided.

Get Help

Businesses needing assistance with application or understanding program eligibility and requirements can contact DEO’s Office of Small Business for guidance:

Address: 4716 E. Cesar E. Chavez, Los Angeles 90022

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm at

Phone: (844) 432-4900

Email: osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov‍ ‍