Tuesday, April 18, 2006

NOTE: MEDIA ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND AND COVER THIS MEETING.

Wilmington, N.C. -- The Pender Economic Development Alliance will conduct a feasibility study to investigate the development of a Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen in Southeastern North Carolina, Alliance Chair Jimmy Smith announced today. The study seeks to uncover the potential of this innovative community economic development tool for the Cape Fear region. Preliminary findings should be available by mid-August.

The food entrepreneurship center will contain a shared-use commercial kitchen, training rooms and other space such as dry, refrigerated and freezer storage and be available for use by area food entrepreneurs. The shared kitchen will be a fully licensed, insured and equipped facility where bakers, specialty food manufacturers, growers and producers, and other food entrepreneurs can rent food production kitchen space at an affordable cost.

In addition, the facility will offer a wide array of value-added services, including training, technical assistance, and access to capital. Based on similar operating kitchens in other parts of the country, these incubator facilities can become engines for job creation.

Interested persons are invited to attend an introductory meeting at 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 26, at Cooperative Extension Auditorium at 801 South Walker Street in Burgaw. The featured speaker will be Cameron Wold, community developer at Boise State University and author of "Establishing a Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen." Wold has conducted feasibility studies about shared-used kitchen facilities for communities across the country.

The study team will be headed by Virginia Teachey, coordinator of the alliance, with assistance from the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) at UNC Wilmington, and is funded by a grant from Duke Endowment.

"We want to help existing business men and women expand their local operations, and create an environment to encourage the development of 'home-grown' business and industry which will lead to new jobs in Southeastern North Carolina," said Smith.

Because of the region's agricultural production, culture, and a wealth of culinary delights, the Pender Economic Development Alliance and SBTDC believe this incubator project is ideally suited for the Cape Fear area.

"Our evaluation of existing and profitable incubators led us to seek a professional feasibility study for an incubator here," said Smith. "We want to initiate a successful, stable, and enduring economic project for our community. We think this kitchen incubator that can create local jobs, showcase local food processors, provide training opportunities for low-income individuals and possibly incubate an entire industry, raising food manufacturing in the Cape Fear area to the next level."

"We are very eager to get this feasibility study under way," stated Virginia Teachey. "Everyone will benefit from this community project which will create new jobs and diversify our economy."

For more information, please contact:

Virginia Teachey - Coordinator
Pender Economic Development Alliance
100 East Industrial Drive
Burgaw, NC 28425
910/259-9105 or 910/259-4966
Email: vteachey@cfcc.edu