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Council approves Golden State CDC contract to operate new Virginia Avenue Park commercial kitchen
Summary
Council approved a contract with Golden State CDC to operate a commercial kitchen at Virginia Avenue Park, directing staff to track program metrics and prioritize Pico neighborhood outreach; the 12‑week training cohorts and tiered rental model were described in staff presentations.
Santa Monica’s City Council approved a contract with Golden State CDC to run the long‑awaited commercial kitchen at Virginia Avenue Park, a project staff said will combine resident workforce training with a tiered rental model for microentrepreneurs.
Staff described the program as a 12‑week cohort model with 8–10 participants per cohort and up to four cohorts annually (about 40 participants in year one), plus a tiered rental structure that offers lower fees for residents and low‑income residents and market rates for non‑residents. Golden State CDC will run training, help participants develop business plans and connect graduates to microloans and placement opportunities; staff said the kitchen could also be used as commissary space for microenterprise home cooks.
Council asked for regular metrics tracking, including zip‑code participation to document Pico neighborhood access and outcomes such as businesses started, jobs created and microloan uptake. Staff agreed to publish results and to prioritize Pico neighborhood outreach in the initial cohort recruitment.
The council voted to move the contract and related item; the motion carried on roll call with all present voting yes. Councilmembers praised the program as a long‑awaited community resource and asked staff to report back with measurable outcomes following cohort completion.
