Resources

Starting Your Food Business at the Flint Food Works

We have many tasks to accomplish together while you begin your journey as an entrepreneur at the Flint Food Works. Below is a list of items that we will check off together while bringing you on board as a new kitchen user. Some of these tasks will take some time while others will be easy to follow up on. Rest assured we will get through this together. 

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.”

- Vince Lombardi

Step 1- Fill Out Our Intake Form

Step 2- Create an Account on The Food Corridor

Step 3- Meet with the Flint Food Works Director

Step 4- Submit an Application To Join The Flint Food Works

Step 5- Following Your Application To The Flint Food Works

For A Checklist To Follow Click Here- 

Step 6- Provide Documentation to the Flint Food Works


You Are Almost Ready To Go....

Step 7- Obtain Your Food Service License

Once you have completed the steps of getting your business onboarded through the Flint Food Works orientation you can move on to obtaining your food service license. This will be done with one of the two authorities that oversee food service licensing in the area; the Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) or the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Who you will work with to obtain your license is dependent on how you operate your business.  Learn More...

HOW DO I OBTAIN A FOOD SERVICE LICENSE?

If you are operating a business that creates food that will be packaged, either refrigerated, frozen or dry, and sold either directly to a consumer or via wholesale, you will be licensed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

If you are operating a business that sells food that will be ready to eat, either as a catering operation, food truck or “ghost kitchen” style business you will be licensed by the Genesee County Health Department (GCHD)

Each of these Authorities has their own process of licensing new food businesses as well as their own set of application forms that will need to be completed prior to your inspection. A link will be provided below for you to review. 

As a Flint Food Works kitchen user you will work with our team to complete these documents and we can help you navigate through the various manuals and applications to make it easier to understand.

!! The Documents in each of the sections below do not need to be printed if you plan on working directly with the Flint Food Works to obtain your license. We will handle all of that with you using our online forms. 

For Businesses Working With The Genesee County Health Department

Use the links below to view and print copies 

A. Complete the Food Service Application

B. Complete a Food Establishment Plan Review Application and Worksheets

B-1. Food Establishment Plan Review Submission Instructions

B-2. Plan Review Application

B-3. Plan Review Worksheet

B-4. Plan Review Manual

C. Complete a Standard Operating Procedures Manual

D. Pay Your Fees to the GCHD

+ Other Food Service Licenses: STFU $156

+ Food Service Full Plan Review For STFU: $605

E. Needed for your application: Copy of your menu

For Businesses Working With The Michigan Department of Agriculture

Use the links below to view and print copies 

A. Complete the Food Service Application

B. Complete a Standard Operating Procedures Manual

C. A Copy of Your Product Label and Sample Packaging

D. Pay Your Fees To The MDARD

An operation that sells or offers to sell food directly to a consumer. Examples includedirect to consumer sales, a grocery store, convenience store, party store, retail bakery, fish market, butcher shop, candy store, and produce market.

A wholesale food processor that has $25,000 or less in annual gross wholesale sales made or business done in wholesale sales in the preceding licensing year, or $25,000 or less of the food is reasonably anticipated to be sold for the current licensing year. Only the food sales from the wholesale food processor operation are used in computing the annual gross sales. 

An operation that processes, manufacturers, packages, or labels food for wholesaling. Examples include an ice manufacturer; wholesale bakery or bread plant; winery; brewery; water, juice, soft drink, or beverage plant; canning plant; flour mill, cereal plant; specialty foods processor; wholesale fish or seafood processor, wholesale fish smoking operation, fruit & vegetable packer, egg grading plant.

Once You Are Done With Your Application Documents and Fees...

You can now schedule an appointment with your respective inspector to meet with you in the Flint Food Works kitchens to undergo an on-site inspection. Details of the requirements for your business will be provided by the inspector. This should take no longer than 1-3 hours and can be scheduled using the Food Corridor program while you are on the phone with the inspector. Your inspection session is FREE at the Flint Food Works. After you pass, you are all set and ready to go!

Other Resources That Might Be Helpful:

Food Business Funding Sources

A report compiled by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

How To Start a Food Truck Business

A self paced course offered free from the MSU Product Center