Application

Ujamaa Kitchen is a highly-competitive culinary program that supports 15 Black food entrepreneurs per cohort in San Francisco, CA to grow and develop their businesses. If you are passionate about the food industry and looking to take your business to the next level, Ujamaa Kitchen could be the perfect program for you. Our team of experienced mentors and industry experts will provide you with the tools, resources, and guidance necessary to succeed in this competitive industry.

Applications are currently closed!

Eligibility Requirements

Direct Payment Eligibility:

  • Applicant must reside in San Francisco

  • Applicant’s business must be registered in San Francisco OR applicant must register their business in San Francisco during the duration of the program 

  • Applicant must have a valid photo ID (California ID, Driver’s License, or Passport are all acceptable forms of identification)

  • Applicant must have a Social Security Number (SSN)

  • Applicant must be a for-profit business 

  • Applicant must be available to dedicate 5-6 hours per week to their business, which includes orientation, workshop attendance, prep work, etc. 

  • Applicants must be low-income individuals/reside in low-income households to be eligible for Direct Payments.  (To verify low-income applicants, please review this Median Income Spreadsheet)

  • Previously admitted Ujamaa Kitchen clients will not be eligible for readmission for two (2) years after their first year of admission. 

    Participation Eligibility:

  • Participant agrees to attend ALL mandatory workshops and educational tours

  • Participant agrees to attend ALL of the four-week, four-hour on-site training in the kitchen

  • Participant agrees to spend/dedicate 5-6 hours per week on their business

  • Participant agrees to attend ALL weekly technical assistance meetings with En2action 

  • Participant agrees to attend one monthly meeting with all Ujamaa Kitchen participants 

  • Participant agrees to communicate with En2action staff

What does Ujamaa Kitchen Offer?

Components of the Program

  • In-person culinary certification course 

  • Weekly workshops and networking opportunities

  • Educational tours

  • Permitting and licensing support 

  • Access to a free commercial kitchen space 

  • Access to vending opportunities (catering, farmer's markets, etc.) 

  • Weekly one-on-one consulting with staff

  • Financial support of up to $18,500 towards your business (Note: You must be low-income to qualify for direct payment. To verify low-income applicants, please review this Median Income Spreadsheet). 

Application Process

Overview

Ujamaa Kitchen Cohort 3 Program Applications went live on Monday, October 9th, 2023!

We ONLY accepted the first 100 ELIGIBLE applicants.

Each application was reviewed on an ongoing basis for eligibility until 100 eligible applications were selected or until Monday, October 30th, 2023 at 12pm PST.

From there, 30 applicants were selected for the second round of applications which will involve a food sampling and a 20-minute in-person interview. 

On Tuesday, November 28th, 2023 we will announce the 15 applicants to be accepted into the Ujamaa Kitchen Program. If you are accepted, Orientation will be on December 19th, 2023.

Applications for cohort 3 are currently closed!

Resources

Application Materials

To view the scoring rubric of the application and compare your answers, click here

To view an example application for the program, click here

Additional Questions?

For additional questions about the program, please contact us at ujamaa@en2action.org

THANK YOU TO OUR CITY PARTNERS

Ujamaa Kitchen is a community partnership program made possible through the fiscal support of the Dream Keeper Initiative, the Human Rights Commission, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.