Montgomery County will lean on what’s probably the best local example of a kitchen incubator in an effort to start one of its own.
The county on Wednesday announced Union Kitchen — the D.C. organization that provides kitchen space for about 50 local food businesses — will join with Bethesda-based retail and development firm Streetsense to look for potential incubator sites, come up with a management structure and look at training programs.
Union Kitchen’s 7,300-square-foot warehouse provides food business entrepreneurs ready-to-go kitchen space and equipment, often one of the highest-costs to opening a restaurant. It’s meant to provide a low-cost, low-risk way for local food businesses to get established.
With an increasing demand for locally-sourced food, Montgomery County put out a request for proposals this summer to get help building their own.
“This facility will foster the growth of small businesses and provide new workforce opportunities for our residents,” County Executive Isiah Leggett said at a press conference Wednesday. “Part of what makes this project so special to me, personally, is that it represents our commitment to creating economic opportunities for all facets of Montgomery County.”
Dan Hoffman, the county’s Chief Innovation Officer, said the list of food entrepreneurs waiting to get into Union Kitchen in D.C. includes some Montgomery County businesses.
“We frequently get calls from people who have a family recipe or a special culinary skill that they want to scale into something bigger,” county Economic Development Director Steve Silverman said. “In addition to space, they really need business questions to be answered and mentoring from experts in the field.”
Union Kitchen and Streetsense will provide a scope of work with all of their planning.
Union Kitchen co-owner Jonas Singer said he’s seen “an explosion in interest in startup, locally owned food businesses,” in Montgomery County.
“A food incubator allows people to not just dream, but to achieve, creating economic wealth, jobs, and businesses that bring all of us, as customers, great food and experiences,” Singer said.
Photo via Manna Food Center
