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 South Shore Food Ventures study group is investigating the idea of establishing a shared-use commercial kitchen (right here in Northwest Indiana) to create a greater link between Indiana agricultural production and food processing.

We believe this is an exciting community economic development tool. The kitchen could offer food entrepreneurs 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 completing and submitting the Purdue Extension Food Ventures Feasibility 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 our region.

This survey consists of eighteen questions and should take approximately ten minutes to complete. If you don't know the answer or the question is not applicable to you, please feel free to skip the question. Answering these questions is voluntary. All responses will be confidential.

Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact:

Brad Clinehens
Purdue Extension Educator, Economic & Community Development
219-755-3240
bclinehens@purdue.edu