From fried food to BBQ and tacos, food trucks always offer a mouthwatering selection of menu items. To help support small businesses in the area, Albany County has announced that for the first time, food trucks and other refreshment vendors will be allowed to sell their food along the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail.
See What’s in Store for the Rail Trail
According to the news release, Albany County will select six vendors by lottery for two specifically designated locations at each of the three trailheads in Albany, Slingerlands, and Voorheesville. These vendors must meet certain health, insurance, and other criteria to qualify for a one-month permit.
Six new permits will be issued randomly at the end of each month until October 12, 2020. This will give a variety of individual businesses an opportunity to serve food on the 9-mile rail trail.
“The COVID-19 crisis and economic shutdown have had devastating impacts on our small businesses and hardworking families who continue to struggle to make ends meet. We need to utilize every asset possible that Albany County has to support them in their time of need. This particular initiative has the added bonus of actually enhancing the experience for the thousands of Rail Trail users,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy in the news release.
These permits will cost $200 per month for food trucks and $125 per month for food carts, tents, and temporary stands. The hours of operation for the food vendors will be Sunday – Saturday, 8:00am-8:00pm.
If you’re a vendor with questions, concerns, or comments about this initiative, or if you’d like to participate, you can contact the Albany County Department of General Services Purchasing Division at 518-447-7140. You can also learn more on the Empire State Purchasing Group website.
The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail is open to the public for walking, jogging, and biking, and it extends from South Pearl Street in Albany to Voorheesville.
