Millstone Kitchen Invests in Aspiring New River Valley Food Entrepreneurs with Free Business Classes and $20K in Funding.
Millstone Kitchen announces today a new program to eliminate barriers to food-business success with a program called ‘From Scratch.’ Designed to invest in the success of Blacksburg-area food entrepreneurs, From Scratch is a series of free business classes for aspiring foodpreneurs and provides generous awards to cover business start-up costs. From Scratch is a free series of six 3-hour classes held Thursday nights beginning January 23rd (deadline to apply is Jan 3, 2020.)
The program is designed to provide new (and existing) foodpreneurs with everything they need to know to get their businesses up and running in just six weeks. Taught by a team of local experts, topics include Business Planning, Meeting Food Safety Requirements, Legal and Accounting, Marketing and Promotion, and Finances and Loans. Millstone Kitchen has up to $20k to award new and existing foodpreneurs. Participants who complete the entire series can qualify for funding of kitchen application fees, business license fees, VDACS or VDH inspection fees, BPCS and ServSafe certification fees, and first year of liability insurance. Foodpreneurs who participate in the series AND submit a final business plan, can potentially win awards to cover additional start up and early operating expenses such as kitchen rental fees and inventory costs. “People have great ideas and amazing products, but without the business knowledge and financial support, it’s challenging to start a new business. The board of Millstone Kitchen is excited to provide the key ingredients aspiring foodpreneurs need to be successful,” says Millstone Kitchen manager, Jessica Schultz.
Scratch program partners include the Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center, Virginia Community Capital, Virginia Cooperative Extension, VT Food Innovations Center, Floyd County Planning and Economic Development, and the NRV Regional Commission. Awards are made possible through a Department of Housing and Community Development Vibrant Communities Initiative Grant. Millstone Kitchen is a shared use commercial kitchen located in Blacksburg, VA, and operated by the nonprofit Live Work Eat Gather, Inc.
EVENT PRESENTED BY:
Millstone Kitchen
(540) 315-9160
millstonekitchen@gmail.com
https://www.millstonekitchen.org
