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Food-Based Business Incubator Programs Food-Based Business Incubator Programs MUNICIPAL ACTION GUIDE Food-Based Business Incubator Programs Food-Based Business Incubator Programs Introduction For years, co-working spaces and incubator programs have accelerated the growth of technology-based startups. Now, this concept of providing entrepreneurs with shared working space, mentorship, and education is increasingly being translated into food-based businesses. The national context is ripe for food-based entrepreneurship, with the $1.8 trillion food industry comprising about 13 percent of the total economy.1 This action guide from the National League of Cities (NLC) provides an overview of kitchen and farm incubator programs, as well as guidance on how local governments can support these emerging strategies to promote local entrepreneurship and strengthen local food systems. 2 NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES MUNICIPAL ACTION GUIDE Incubator Types An incubator program is defined as a comprehensive assistance program designed to help startup and early-stage businesses become financially viable companies.2 The type of assistance provided to convection ovens, prep tables, and entrepreneurs includes access to a mixers) at a more affordable price than shared workspace, education programs the cost of purchasing these items up on how to run a business, and mentors front, which can reach up to $100,000 or who can deliver industry-specific more.4 guidance. Kitchen incubators and farm incubators are two programs for food- The most common goods created by based entrepreneurs. These food-centric chefs in kitchen incubator programs are programs support individuals in their baked goods, meals for catered events efforts to launch or grow a business in and food trucks, sauces, and spices or the food industry, which could include rubs.5 opening a restaurant, food truck, or catering service, as well as selling The services typically provided by products at grocery stores, farmers’ kitchen incubator programs include: markets, and online. ● Access to Space/Equipment: Shared commercial kitchen space Kitchen Incubator (often at-cost via a monthly or Programs per-use fee); food storage and packaging areas Kitchen incubator programs help food entrepreneurs open a restaurant or food ● Education: Programming on truck, build a catering company, or sell business planning, marketing/ products in retail stores and online. The advertising, distribution, incubator strategy for supporting food regulations, food safety, and entrepreneurs is gaining popularity access to capital across the country. There are currently more than 200 kitchen incubators in the ● Business Assistance: Technical U.S., and two-thirds of these programs assistance with certifications; were established within the last six product development assistance; years.3 A central benefit of a kitchen and connections to buyers and incubator program is access to shared consumers commercial kitchen equipment (e.g., FOOD-BASED BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAMS 3 Farm Incubator Programs The service typically provided by farm incubator programs include: Farm incubator programs are designed to develop the next generation of ● Access to Space/Equipment: Affordable or free farmland and farmers and support the development access to necessary equipment of sustainable food systems around the nation. These programs help fill ● Education: Hands-on training in a growing workforce gap, as some farming practices, selling produce, experts predict approximately half of marketing, and understanding the the nation’s farmers will retire within local agriculture industry the next ten years.6 As the agricultural equivalent to kitchen incubators, farm ● Business Assistance: Mentoring incubator programs offer access to and technical support for building below-market land, shared farming a sustainable farm business equipment, and business education. Farm incubators are also a growing phenomenon. About 75 percent of currently operating programs were launched within the past ten years.7 In the U.S. and Canada, there are 65 operational farm incubators, 27 planned incubators, and 13 incubator programs at universities.8 4 NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES MUNICIPAL ACTION GUIDE Impact on Equity Food business incubator programs are not just good for the economy – they’re also good for equity. 2007 Today A decade ago, only 14 percent of lead farmers were female, but today, half of all farm incubator participants are women.10 Kitchen and farm incubator programs Another positive impact of food incubator are working to create more equitable programs has been the increase in gender access to entrepreneurship among equity in the food industry. A decade diverse populations. For instance, some ago, only 14 percent of lead farmers kitchen incubator programs use place- were female, but today, half of all farm based strategies to lift up low-income incubator participants are women.10 In the and immigrant entrepreneurs living in kitchen incubator space, more than half underserved communities or in public (53 percent) of all participants are female housing. Many farm incubator programs and almost one-third (28 percent) are are tailored specifically to meet the needs minority. Supporting the establishment of refugee and immigrant farmers, and of a kitchen or farm incubator program others restrict admission to include only is one way local government leaders can individuals that are considered socially invest in a more equitable and sustainable disadvantaged or who have limited local economy. The action guide below resources, as defined by the USDA.9 offers suggested strategies for how cities can get involved. FOOD-BASED BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAMS 5 Food-Based Business Incubator Programs Local Action In most cases, it won’t be the city’s primary role to establish or operate a kitchen or farm incubator program. Incubator programs are often run as either for-profit or nonprofit organizations, and at times in partnership with local public universities. Municipal government leaders, however, can use their powers to encourage, influence, and guide the creation of a food business incubator program that will benefit the overall community. Below are several suggested action steps: 1 Convene and motivate key often have a unique vantage point into partners. vacant buildings and land that could be converted into an incubator space. As a local leader, you can leverage City leaders can also think creatively your convening power to get the right about how to co-locate an incubator players at the table to discuss whether program with a farmer’s market or a kitchen or farm incubator program local grocery store so participants is a good fit for your city. These key have built-in access to customers. stakeholder meetings should include Lastly, if your city’s budget allows, you representation from the business could contribute funding to offset the and agricultural communities, local initial costs of launching the incubator nonprofit organizations, real estate, and program. higher education. 3 Focus the incubator 2 Assist with securing program on underserved infrastructure or land, and residents. help fund startup costs. Ensuring that your city’s new incubator Once your community has decided to program is equitable and inclusive move forward with building a kitchen is an important goal. The cost to or farm incubator, a city can support start a business and access business the launch and development in a few education are often a barrier to critical ways. First, local governments 6 NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES MUNICIPAL ACTION GUIDE food entrepreneurship, and incubator partners. This integration is also a way to programs help eliminate these obstacles. provide on-the-job training to individuals Local Action Many kitchen and farm incubator that could potentially be hired by the programs are targeted to low-income, business when it expands and outgrows minority, or immigrant individuals. the incubator space. 4 Encourage the integration of 5 Provide technical assistance production and distribution on the business regulation services into the incubator process. model. Cities should partner with food-based A farm or kitchen incubator should incubator programs to streamline the consider incorporating an on-site business certification and inspection production and distribution component. processes. Local governments can Food entrepreneurs will need to figure eliminate regulatory stipulations that out how to scale up recipes, develop prevent more than one business from labels and packaging, fill containers applying for a license using the same of produce or goods for shipment, address, since the incubator houses and many other manufacturing-based multiple enterprises. City departments components of their new business. It’s can also coordinate and streamline an added benefit if incubator programs inspections, in addition to scheduling can offer these of services in-house regular on-site office hours for providing to minimize the need for members business support. to coordinate with multiple external FOOD-BASED BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAMS 7 SOURCE: UNION KITCHEN Food-Based Business Incubator Programs 6 Use the zoning code to entrepreneurs are incorporated into support agriculture and food- events, retention efforts, “buy-local” based retail. campaigns, and opportunities to serve on small business advisory committees. Urban agriculture is an expanding field that is improving access to healthy food in cities. However, zoning codes might 8 Purchase food from incubator prevent an urban farm incubator from graduates. co-existing with neighborhoods that Once your city’s kitchen
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