Louisville's Food Truck Clinic program could mean tons of new food trucks. What to know

For the first time, aspiring food truck owners will be able to get their permits all at once — and downtown Louisvillians will benefit, too.

Several city agencies have teamed up to launch a pop-up Food Truck Clinic, offering a one-stop shop where food vendors can get the green light from the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Louisville Division of Fire and Jefferson County Fire Service, and Alcoholic Beverage Control to legally sell food and drinks to the public.

Every Thursday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., from now until Oct. 19, food trucks and other mobile vendors can stop by the alley at Armory Place behind the Metro Development Center at 444 S. 5th St. to get their permits to operate.

“Some of our city’s favorite local restaurants started as food trucks,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a release. “Food trucks add diversity, help connect neighborhoods and attribute economic vibrancy to our community as a foodie city. We want to support them by making the permitting process as easy and streamlined as we can.”

The idea for the clinic came from ABC Director Brad Silveria, who said the clinic cuts "the red tape out of the process."

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"Imagine how hard it is to get one government department together," Silveria said. "We all three came together and said we need to do this. It's like the stars aligned properly to make sure this red tape would be cut."

There's also an amnesty period included for the food truckers, waiving the Jefferson County permit fees for the duration of the program. Kentucky state permit fees will still apply.

Opening a food truck is often the first step food and beverage purveyors take to opening a restaurant. Troy King, president of the Louisville Food Truck Association, said he often has to educate first-time mobile food vendors on the permitting process required to open.

More than 200 food trucks operate in Jefferson County. Now, King said, new trucks will be able to "come out of the woodwork" and open for business.

King said this kind of program is particularly helpful for immigrants looking to get into the food business. On Thursday when the program launched, the Venezuelan truck Alchemy and the Columbian coffee truck Con Aji y Cafe were in attendance.

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"That diversity is what every city needs," King said. "The food truck scene here is exploding. We are getting new members every week for the Food Truck Association. It's my goal to make it accessible for everyone and make it so it's easy for you to get into this business."

Vendors who would like to stop by the Food Truck Clinic must register here. To learn more about food trucks and mobile vending permits, visit Louisville’s Food Truck and Mobile Vending Permit website.

Reach food reporter Dahlia Ghabour at dghabour@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville's Food Truck Clinic could mean tons of new food trucks