Incubator Kitchen nurturing equity for Grand Rapids area food entrepreneurs

The Grand Rapids Downtown Market Incubator Kitchen is so much more than a 5,000-square-foot commercial kitchen. The facility offers three different types of storage — cold/freezer, dry and pallet storage — and a variety of resources to help food entrepreneurs launch their own small businesses.

“Our bread and butter — and what we're very proud of — is we actually specialize in one-on-one guidance throughout the food business journey: licensing, launching and getting people ready to get their business off the ground,” says Ryan Bolhuis, culinary operations manager for the Grand Rapids Downtown Market. “We also provide free consultations when it comes to recipe development, risk, scaling, costing, pricing and marketing guidance. One of the really fun things that we just launched is free photography sessions for our entrepreneurs.”

The Incubator Kitchen has launched 168 small food businesses; more than 20% of them are Black-owned businesses including soul food restaurant Southern Smoke and Tastefull Vegan Frozen Desserts, both in Wyoming.

“West Michigan has grown so much over the years. What's one of the great things that's come with that growth is the opportunities for traditionally overlooked communities,” Bolhuis says. “What's really great is a lot of communities now have the opportunity to tell their stories, and ethnic minorities like myself, we tell our stories through food.”
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market Incubator Kitchen offers three different types of storage — cold/freezer, dry and pallet storage — and a variety of resources to help food entrepreneurs launch their own small businesses.
One way that the Incubator Kitchen fosters equity is by keeping costs low. Using the kitchen costs $10 to $22 an hour. Storage services range from $16 to $30 a month. Entrepreneurs who qualify for government assistance programs are granted access to these services at no charge. Consultations, workshops and educational events are free.

“We definitely recognize that these low costs really help small businesses have low overhead,” Bolhuis says. “What's also great is we don't take any percentage of the business, require any type of deposit payment, or require any type of monthly minimum. It’s literally what you use is what you pay for.”

Another way that the Incubator Kitchen is creating business equity is by connecting its entrepreneurs to other local organizations, resources and sales opportunities. A collaboration among the Downtown Market Education Foundation, Grow,  MSU Product Center and Start Garden, its Culinary Conversations program offers free events six to eight times a year that range from panel discussions and guest presenters to workshops.  
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market Incubator Kitchen offers three different types of storage — cold/freezer, dry and pallet storage — and a variety of resources to help food entrepreneurs launch their own small businesses.
“It's all free. It's all meant to highlight local West Michigan food businesses and offer education through their experiences,” Bolhuis says. “Our whole goal is to make sure to really do our part in making sure that everybody gets an equal opportunity and advancing equity for all businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Written by Estelle Slootmaker, Development News Editor
Photos courtesy Grand Rapids Downtown Market