Eastern Carolina Food Ventures Incubator Kitchen is a regional, shared-use commercial incubator kitchen designed to help develop food entrepreneurs, create new food businesses, grow existing food businesses, and provide workforce development resulting in new jobs and new economic development in eastern North Carolina. Located in the WestPark Business Technology Center in Warsaw, the kitchen is a collaborative effort of James Sprunt Community College, Duplin County, and Pender County.
PURPOSE
Provide hourly access to entrepreneurs and existing food businesses for:
New food and beverage development and production
Food research and testing
Commercial kitchen for caterers
Neutraceutical development
GOALS
Create new food businesses
Grow existing food businesses
Provide workforce development
resulting in new jobs
Stimulate economic development for
eastern North Carolina
Foster the spirit of entrepreneurship
FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT
The Eastern Carolina Food Ventures
(ECFV)
Incubator Kitchen
facility
includes three distinct processing areas, separate dry storage areas and
walk-in cooler
and freezer, as well as a
separate wash area.
Available commercial equipment includes:
Commercial Ranges
Convection Ovens
Steam Kettle
Dough Cutter
Mixer
Pressure Cooker
Cooker/Canner
Dehydrator
Food Processor
Meat Grinder
Vegetable Cutter
Shredder
Baking Rack and Proofer
Vegetable Slicer
Processing and Distribution Center - In addition to the three distinct areas outlined above, there is access to a processing and distribution area with a separate freezer equipped with a flash freezing unit. This area is designed for produce growers to bring their fruits and vegetables to be packaged and/or processed to be sold and delivered to local institutions such as schools, hospitals, etc. This program is implemented and managed by Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Council. For more information go to www.feastsoutheastnc.org
Other Resources - Other available resources include wireless internet access throughout the facility, access to a conference room, computer lab, some incubator office space, business and food related seminars, and free individual counseling to assist with marketing, business plan development, financing, etc. through the JSCC Small Business Center.
GEOGRAPHIC TARGET AREA
The geographic target area includes but is not limited to the following counties: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender, Duplin, Greene, Johnston,
Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Sampson, and Wayne.
The implementation and operation of the kitchen is managed by the Small Business Center at James Sprunt Community College. Special thanks to Pender County and the Pender Economic Development Alliance for having the vision to develop this facility for the region, and to the following funders and contributors who are helping ECFV be successful:
Blue Ridge Food Ventures
Cape Fear Resource Conservation & Development
Duke Endowment
Duplin County
Duplin County Cooperative Extension
Economic Development Initiative - HUD
Four County Electric Membership Corporation
Golden Leaf Foundation
James Sprunt Community College
NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Pender County Cooperative Extension
Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Project
UNC-Wilmington
USDA Rural Development
