Freedom For Food Trucks: AFP’s Campaign to Cut Red Tape for Small Businesses in the Peach State
When Georgia resident Brandon Peña and his siblings collectively invested all their money into buying a food truck, they never imagined the burdensome permit requirements waiting for them on the other side.
Upon opening their food truck Tres Jardines, the Peña family had a tough time earning enough money to cover their costs. A big reason for this was that Georgia Law required owners to request a separate permit for each county they operate in, since Georgia has 159 counties that means businesses would have to potentially have to obtain 159 permits.
Countless food truck owners like the Peñas were punished by burdensome regulations, they needed help to get the law changed and partnered with Americans for Prosperity (AFP).
AFP launched a grassroots campaign on a bill to streamline the permitting process, requiring food truck owners to obtain just one permit to operate statewide. HB 1443 went into effect January 1, 2023. By November that same year, Brandon’s family-run food truck generated enough profits to support all five of them and fund the purchase of another food truck.
The Peña Family Struggles to Keep Their Business Afloat
From an early age, Brandon remembers the family gathering around the table to share the authentic Mexican meals prepared by his mother who always had a passion for cooking. He remembers the hypnotizing smells of the food trucks that lined the streets as the community brought together recipes from all corners of the globe. Bright, colorful paint splashed across the sides of each truck and eager patrons gathered waiting for their order in anticipation.
In the early 2000s, the Peña family purchased their first food truck. They spend much of their time driving around construction sites, warehouses, apartments, and a local popular plaza, trying to sell food and gain traction for their business. Brandon spent his early years restocking the food and selling drinks to help his family, but it wasn’t enough.
Despite their efforts to keep their business open, they were forced to sell the food truck and find other jobs to support the family. The issue was each Georgia county required a permit to sell food. Each permit cost money and time and had its own rules for approval. Food truck operators spent more time navigating the system, filling out paperwork, and appeasing the local government than selling food.
Americans for Prosperity Drives Permitting Reform Over the Finish Line
In 2014, Tony Harrison, another Georgia resident, left corporate America to start a food truck only to realize the current system set businesses up to fail. There was no one fighting on behalf of food truck owners, so he started the Food Truck Association of Georgia (FTAG) to advocate for small businesses and lobby state and local governments to create business-friendly policies.
Tony spent over two years trying to take on the onerous permitting requirements in the state but, despite his hard work, he found no success.
Legislative staff in the Georgia State Capitol recommended that he connect with Tony West, State Director for AFP-Georgia, to get the job done. Harrison shared the Peña family’s story with AFP along with many other stories FTAG collected illustrating the devastating impact for individuals trying to start or expand their business. AFP immediately jumped into the fight and helped to draft HB 1443 to address the issue head on.
“Once we partnered with AFP, almost immediately the light went on, doors opened up to us, and we were able to meet with key decision makers who could have an impact on what we were trying to do,” recalls Harrison.
AFP staff and volunteers spent four weeks visiting dozens of food trucks, they collected feedback and support for the bill. In the process, they mobilized hundreds of business owners to call or send an email to their lawmaker to voice their support for the bill. AFP plastered fliers on the side of food trucks to make patrons aware of the issue and encourage them to get involved.
“This grassroots effort made all the difference,” says West. “We wanted to hit lawmakers from multiple angles.”
HB 1443 passed with unanimous support in 2022, cutting red tape and making it easier for small businesses to operate, grow, and succeed in Georgia.
Thanks to AFP, the Peñas and other business owners in the state can achieve their American Dream doing what they love and providing delicious food to their communities.
Join AFP and become a part of something bigger than politics as usual.
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