The Culinary Incubator of Open Door Community House provides a food business incubation program currently for graduates of a culinary arts training class who desire to start their own business. Each person has a unique plan to achieve this goal but all participants receive business incubation classes (such as how to write a business plan, budgeting, and obtaining appropriate insurance), as well as food business-specific services (such as licensing, perfecting the product, mentoring from local chefs or restaurant owners, and marketing). An essential connection to a commercial kitchen for product development is also provided.
The goal of the incubator is to help persons with low income who have at least a high school diploma or equivalent become business owners and be financially self-sustaining, ending poverty for themselves and their families.
The incubator pilot was completed in December 2020; the first full cohort of participants was completed in June 2021.
Vital partnerships for the Culinary Incubator include StartUP Columbus for business incubation and The Food Mill for commercial kitchen access.
If you are interested in the incubator, contact Sharayah Davis at sharayah@odch.org for more detailed information.
Our first graduate of The Culinary Incubator on the left, Phyllis. Phyllis is now a licensed & insurance business owner. Brittney, on the right, is a graduate of The Culinary Arts Institute and is the manager of The Food Mill.
