FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2013
Contact: Ellen Barnard
(608) 576-3734
FEED Kitchens Breaks Ground on Facility
(MADISON, Wis.)—Food Enterprise and Economic Development (FEED) Kitchens broke ground today on its planned food business incubator at Northgate Shopping Center with the hopes of opening its doors to local food entrepreneurs in September.
“We are so excited to have taken the next step in the process today,” Ellen Barnard, FEED Kitchens chair, said. “The groundbreaking signifies that we are getting closer to supporting more locally produced food for the community.”
The 5,400-square foot facility will include five commercial kitchens, with specialized equipment for baking; produce preparation and processing; and deli prep and meat processing.
FEED selected Engineered Construction, Inc, as the general contractor and Iconica as the architect. Construction is expected to begin immediately and conclude by August.
Major donors include The Madison Community Foundation, Madison Gas & Electric Foundation, A Woman’s Touch, Lotions Limited LLC, City of Madison Community Development Block Grants, Pleasant Rowland Foundation, Willy Street Coop and the State of Wisconsin through the Buy Local-Buy Wisconsin.
Currently, Madison College, REAP Food Group, Community Action Coalition, Yum Tum Organic Baby Food, Mad City Fry Guy Food Cart, Polly’s Preserves & Jams, Stubborn Mule Catering and Dean’s Xpress Catering are committed to using the facility.
The Food Enterprise and Economic Development (FEED) Kitchens will provide tools to help youth and adults who are disadvantaged, unemployed or underemployed develop skills that move them toward self-sufficiency. FEED will reduce hunger and increase the availability of healthy local food by providing organizations serving the hungry, gardeners and farmers a place to process excess produce that would otherwise end up in a landfill or compost pile. For more information, please visit www.feedkitchens.org
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Resulting media coverage:
- Wisconsin State Journal (April 3, 2013): Groundbreaking set Wednesday for North Side food business incubator
- WisBusiness (April 3, 2013): FEED Kitchens breaks ground on facility
- Madison Startups (April 3, 2013): FEED’s Groundbreaking a ‘Step Closer’ to Goal