Keystone Kitchens Incubator Needs Assessment Survey
Do you need help starting or expanding your specialty or gourmet food business? A shared-use commercial kitchen could be the answer. It is a place where farmers, caterers, and producers of specialty/gourmet food items can prepare their food products in a fully licensed kitchen. New food production businesses frequently lack the capital to get started. The ability to purchase the individual equipment required for their production needs might be feasible, but the capital required to purchase a fully equipped commercial kitchen would most likely be quite large.
A shared-use kitchen can be rented out by the hour, as needed, at affordable rates--and could allow farmers to add value to their agricultural commodities; give community food businesses the opportunity to expand into new lines; or help potential food entrepreneurs to start new businesses.
The PA Keystone Kitchens Incubator Study group is investigating the idea of establishing one or more shared-use commercial kitchens to create a greater link between Pennsylvania agricultural production and food processing.
We believe this is an exciting community economic development tool. The kitchen could offer farmers and start-up and expanding businesses the opportunity to explore food production without the high cost of equipment or manufacturing space. This facility would also provide much needed technical assistance in food production as well as general business management skills. It could be an opportunity to expand existing businesses, create new ones, and provide new jobs to our community as these businesses graduate and become self-sustaining enterprises.
All of these opportunities will depend on the response of potential users and the support that this idea receives from the community. We are asking for your help in sharing your interest on this subject by first reading the Keystone Kitchens Program Informed Permission Form, then completing and submitting the PA Keystone Kitchens Incubator Feasibility Study User Survey. The information that you provide will aid us in determining the level of interest in such an endeavor and what type of facility would be most appropriate for your area of the Commonwealth.
Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions, please contact:
Dr. Larry Grunden, Senior Food Industry Specialist
PennTAP
Penn State Harrisburg
116 Educational Activities Building
777 West Harrisburg Pike
Middletown PA 17057
Phone: 717-948-6523
E-mail: lpg11@psu.edu
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