3CORE, in partnership with DCBA, and financially sponsored by Tri Counties Bank, is supporting the Young Entrepreneur Initiative (YEI) at the Thursday Night Market. The program will sponsor up to 20 booths in a designated “Young Entrepreneur” section of the market. Benefits of the program include waiving the one-time registration fee and reduced booth rates if you continue later in the season. To be eligible for the YEI program, applicants will: 

• Successfully completes DCBA’s Thursday Night Market application and is found to be an eligible business based on DCBA’s requirements.
• Be a CURRENT high school student in 3CORE’s service area of Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties. (Highschool ID will be required)
• Have a good or service to sell or promote at the Thursday Night Market.
• Agree to have a one-on-one meeting with 3CORE staff to create a profile and receive resources for a successful market experience.
• Agree to attend a mandatory TNM orientation held prior to participation in the market on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (The program is for 4 weeks, you agree to be at all 4)
• Agree to attend the Thursday Night Markets on the following Thursdays: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7 and 5/14 from 5 pm - 9 pm. 
• Allow YEI signage to be placed on and/or near booth. This may include a badge.
• Students younger than highschool may be considered based on experience, complete the YEI app and a team member will follow up, or you can email
  cdenero@3coreedc.org.
• OPTIONAL: Young Entrepeneurs will have the opportunity to shadow other vendors on 4/9 & 4/16.

Please complete the application form in full. 
 
 
All applications must be submitted online. If you are unable to access a computer, please call the DCBA office for assistance at (530)345-6500. 
 

By checking the boxes below, you acknowledge that you have read and agreed to all Thursday Night Market Terms & Conditions and agree to abide by all applicable rules and regulations if selected to participate in the 2026 Young Entrepeneurs Program. 

Animals: 
In accordance with the California Retail Food Code, animals are prohibited within 20 feet (6 meters) of any certified farmers’ market or food facility. Vendors bringing animals within this distance from any mobile food facility, temporary food facility, or certified farmers’ market are liable for any damage caused by the animal to the premises or facilities.

 
Children: 
Vendor children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times while participating in the market. 

Smoking: 
Smoking is not permitted in or near vendor booth spaces or within 20 feet of any downtown restaurant or storefront, per the City of Chico No-Smoking Ordinance. The City Plaza is also designated as a smoke-free zone. 

Alcohol: 
Vendors are not permitted to consume alcoholic beverages at the event. (California AB774 permits limited sampling by customers under certain conditions, but vendors are excluded from consumption.)

 

Photography & Media: 
Photographs of vendors, customers, and performers during the Thursday Night Market may be used for future event promotion, including printed materials, social media, and the DCBA website. Vendors understand that: 

• There is no compensation for use of images 
• Subjects in photographs may not be notified prior to use 

Restrooms: 
Public restrooms are available at: 

• City Plaza 
• 4th Street near Main 
• 3rd Street near Salem

Vendors should not use downtown merchant restrooms unless they are a paying customer that evening. 

Attire: 
Vendors and customers must be fully clothed throughout the market, including during set-up and tear-down. 

This section outlines the market’s standards for booth presentation and display.

• All vendors are required to comply with these guidelines to maintain a professional, safe, and family-friendly environment. All displays, signage, and booth content must be neat, orderly, and aesthetically pleasing.
• Vendors are responsible for providing all equipment and furnishings necessary to operate their booth. 
• All merchandise must be displayed using tables, racks, shelving, display cases, or similar methods. Some exceptions may apply—please contact DCBA staff for guidance. Tables must be covered with a tablecloth (fabric or vinyl), and table skirting is recommended. 
• All content must remain within the designated booth space, including tables, canopies, merchandise, signs, staff, and product demonstrations. Displays may not protrude into customer circulation areas. Vendors who regularly extend beyond their allotted footprint may be charged for a second booth space. 
• Booth lighting is recommended, particularly during early spring and late summer. Battery-powered lighting or battery + inverter setups are encouraged. Use of generators requires prior approval by management to assess noise and exhaust. 
• No open flames are allowed, including candles, incense, sage, or other aromatic products. 
• Vendors may not provide music or entertainment in booths without prior approval from market management. Permitted music must be free of foul or explicit language. 
• Aggressive sales tactics are prohibited. 
• All booth content and display items must be family-friendly, as determined by the Market Manager or DCBA staff. 
• Compliance Review: Market management and DCBA staff will periodically review vendor booths to ensure adherence to these guidelines.

Vendor Responsibility 
 
Before leaving the market, each vendor must ensure that their booth space and surrounding area are completely free of debris, freshly swept, and that all vendor-generated trash is properly disposed of. While trash receptacles are provided for customer use, vendors are responsible for removing all of their own waste. No trace of the vendor should remain. Sweepers are available at the Event Headquarters booth for vendor use. 

Vendors are classified into categories based on the nature of their business or organization. Required documentation and permits vary depending on vendor type. If your application is approved for participation in the Thursday Night Market, all required documents must be submitted in digital format along with a signed contract. The DCBA team will provide instructions on the next steps upon approval.

NOTE: For the YEI program, 3CORE will help the participants apply for the necessary documents before the first market. 

 
Non-Profit 
Non-profit vendors include, but are not limited to, churches, schools, community service agencies, charities, political organizations, and city or county agencies. An IRS-registered non-profit Tax Identification Number must be provided with the application.

 
Required Permits (if applicable): 
Most non-profit organizations do not require permits unless selling food, merchandise, or raffle tickets as fundraisers. In such cases, the following permits may be required: 

• Seller’s Permit / Resale License 
• Business License
• Butte County Environmental Health Permit 
  (Prepared food items may be sold a maximum of once per month at any community event without applying for a county health permit) 
• State of California Non-Profit Raffle Registration 
  (Some exemptions apply) 
• IRS Determination letter

Handmade 
Handmade vendors offer handcrafted items that are 100% produced, crafted, or created by the applying artist. If the artist employs staff, the artisan must retain full control over all aspects of production. 

Items produced using commercial kits, models, patterns, plans, prefabricated forms, or other commercial production methods are not considered handmade for this market and will be classified as Commercial Vendors. 

Required Permits: 

• Seller’s Permit / Resale License
• Business License

Commercial 
Commercial vendors include any business selling or promoting a product or service. This category includes, but is not limited to:

• Resale of arts, crafts, clothing, or merchandise 
• Businesses distributing information only 
• Vendors selling pre-packaged or processed foods from an off-site facility intended for later consumption (e.g., jam, salsa, bread, pies) 

Required Permits (if applicable): 

• Seller’s Permit / Resale License (required if sales occur at the market)
• Business License
• Processed Food Registration (PFR) (required only when selling pre-packaged, non-potentially hazardous or processed foods such as candy, jam, or salsa) OR 
• Butte County Environmental Health Permit 
  (Mobile Food Facility, Temporary Food Facility, or Cottage Food) 
• Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Contract (for approved food items) 
• Certificate of General Liability Insurance naming DCBA as additional insured (required for food and activity vendors)

 
Prepared Foods 
Prepared Food vendors include businesses serving foods primarily intended for immediate consumption at the market, such as food trucks.

 
Required Permits (if applicable): 

• Seller’s Permit / Resale License (hot food items only) 
• Business License
• Butte County Environmental Health Permit 
  (Mobile Food Facility, Temporary Food Facility, or Cottage Food) 
• Processed Food Registration (PFR) (required only if selling pre-packaged, non-potentially hazardous or processed foods—such as candy, jam, or salsa—in addition to other menu items) 
• Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Contract (for approved food items) 
• Certificate of General Liability Insurance naming DCBA as additional insured 

 

 

Please note: All vendor-provided power sources must be silent and may not emit strong, offensive, or hazardous odors.

By submitting this application, I certify that all information provided is accurate. I understand that if I am approved, I will be able to meet with a representative from 3CORE to help me prepare before I attend the first Thursday Night Market. 

I agrees to attend the Mandatory Orientation and all four Thursday Night Markets outlined in this agreement. 

I agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless DCBA and 3CORE, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, property owners, tenants, and the City of Chico from any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses, including attorneys’ fees, arising from my participation in the Thursday Night Market.