This blog is proudly sponsored by [Partner Name] — Your one-stop shop for commercial kitchen equipment. Get 10% off with code FOODTRUCK10.
2025 Complete Guide to Grants for Food Truck Owners
This guide breaks down the best national and recurring grants for food truck owners. You'll learn who qualifies, what each grant covers, and how to apply.
Plan Like A Pro: Get Your Food Truck Business Plan Template!
10 Comprehensive Modules
35+ Essential Templates
35+ Calculators
.jpg){kind=small}
Jamal Rivers | Last updated: June 7, 2025
In This Article:
Federal Grant Programs for Food Truck Businesses
Federal Grant Programs for Food Truck Businesses
While there’s no specific federal grant just for food trucks, some government programs can still help — especially if your business supports rural communities, underserved groups, or economic development.
USDA Rural Development Programs
If your food truck operates in a rural or small-town area, the USDA has programs that may apply.
What it offers:
Support through local partners for equipment, training, or business development
Some programs create loan funds for rural entrepreneurs
Who qualifies:
Businesses operating in areas with fewer than 50,000 people
Often you need to work with a nonprofit or local agency that applies on your behalf
Where to apply:
Through your state’s USDA office or Grants.gov
Minority and Women-Owned Business Support
The federal government offers resources for underrepresented business owners
Key agencies to know:
MBDA (Minority Business Development Agency)
SBA's Women-Owned Small Business programs
What you get:
Not direct cash grants, but access to training, resources, and contracting opportunities
How it helps:
These programs can make you more competitive for local and corporate grants
SBA and Other Federal Resources
While the SBA doesn’t offer startup grants, they do provide support through partners.
Examples:
SBA-affiliated microloans
Business counseling via SBDCs or SCORE mentors
If your food truck is part of a nonprofit, research, or public health initiative, you may qualify for community development grants.
Buying or Selling a Food Truck? Let’s Make It Simple
Browse hundreds of food trucks — from starter vehicles to fully-equipped kitchens.
Grants for Growth (Visa & Uber Eats)
Our team is monitoring if this will be open this year. In 2022 and 2023, Visa teamed up with Uber Eats and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to offer the Grants for Growth program. This initiative provided grants to restaurants and food businesses on the Uber Eats platform to help them weather unexpected events and upgrade their operations.
In the 2023 cycle, Visa and Uber Eats gave 100 restaurants $10,000 each (as credits toward sustainable packaging) to help eateries transition to eco-friendly. Some food trucks that use Uber Eats for orders could have been eligible if they were in the selected cities.
Eligibility: Typically, you had to be a restaurant/food business active on Uber Eats in certain cities, and commit to using funds for a specific purpose (like sustainability improvements). What it covers: In 2023, it was for sustainable packaging (so winners got $10K earmarked for buying things like compostable containers). In 2022, the focus was pandemic recovery grants (Visa and partners awarded $1 million total in grants via LISC to restaurants).
How to apply: Application was usually through the LISC or Hello Alice platform, with criteria like being an Uber Eats merchant and describing your needs. Keep an eye out – if Visa continues this program or similar ones, it might expand to more areas or different themes (e.g., technology upgrades, etc.).
Buying or Selling a Food Truck? Let’s Make It Simple
Browse hundreds of food trucks — from starter vehicles to fully-equipped kitchens.
Comcast RISE
If your food truck business is owned by minorities or women, Comcast’s RISE program has offered marketing and technology grants. In some cycles, they’ve given $10,000 cash grants in select cities, and in others they provide free advertising or tech makeovers. It’s not ongoing everywhere, but check if your city has a Comcast RISE round coming up.
Buying or Selling a Food Truck? Let’s Make It Simple
Browse hundreds of food trucks — from starter vehicles to fully-equipped kitchens.
Tips to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Grant
Match Your Story to the Grant’s Mission: Do your homework on what the grantor is looking for. A strong application shows that you understand the organization’s goals and values. For example, if a grant is meant to promote sustainable practices, highlight how your food truck uses eco-friendly packaging or locally-sourced ingredients. If it’s a grant for veteran entrepreneurs, emphasize your service and how it’s shaped your work ethic or mission. Tailoring your narrative to fit the grant’s purpose is crucial.
Prepare Supporting Documentation: Some grants (especially bigger ones or government-related) will ask for documentation: financial statements, tax returns, permits, references, etc. It helps to have a data room of these ready. Even if not explicitly required, mentioning that you have a food truck license, all necessary permits, and you’ve done your financial projections can add credibility. For example, the US Chamber of Commerce suggests compiling
Buying or Selling a Food Truck? Let’s Make It Simple
Browse hundreds of food trucks — from starter vehicles to fully-equipped kitchens.
Turning Grant Opportunities into Growth
Securing a grant can be a game-changer for your food truck business, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. To truly maximize these opportunities, it's essential to have a solid foundation. Our comprehensive training program guides you through creating a lender-ready business plan and earning a certification that can enhance your credibility with grant committees and investors alike.
Additionally, understanding the financial landscape of the food truck industry can help you set realistic goals and benchmarks. Explore our detailed breakdown of average food truck revenues by state to see how your potential earnings stack up and identify markets with high growth potential.
Buying or Selling a Food Truck? Let’s Make It Simple
Browse hundreds of food trucks — from starter vehicles to fully-equipped kitchens.
Buying or Selling a Food Truck? Let’s Make It Simple
Browse hundreds of food trucks — from starter vehicles to fully-equipped kitchens.
Buying or Selling a Food Truck? Let’s Make It Simple
Browse hundreds of food trucks — from starter vehicles to fully-equipped kitchens.
Related Articles
The Ultimate Equipment Buying Guide for Your Food Truck: What You Need (and What You Don’t)
The Ultimate Equipment Buying Guide for Your Food Truck: What You Need (and What You Don’t)
The Ultimate Equipment Buying Guide for Your Food Truck: What You Need (and What You Don’t)