Food & Farm Business Incubator (at 21 Acres)
Food & Farm Business Incubator for Washington Small Farm & Agricultural Food Businesses
CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Business Impact NW runs an incubator program focused on providing food production space and wraparound educational training for farm businesses and packaged food businesses who source ingredients primarily from local agricultural producers.
This program supports developing and market testing value-added food products using raw materials from King County/Puget Sound farms. Incubator participants learn to produce and scale food products through hands-on production support and ongoing business mentorship. Participants will learn as a cohort and receive individualized coaching and training.
What You'll Get
- Business Training and One-on-One Coaching
- Access to Production Kitchen and Support
- Tiered Cost System from No-Cost, % subsidized, to Market Rate depending on program stage
- Specialized Training and Mentorship
- Connections to other Business Owners
- Access to Capital and Market Opportunities
Incubator Program Summary
- 12-Month Program
- One-on-One Technical Assistance (business planning & kitchen operations)
- Monthly Training Series (6 sessions, monthly)
- Rental Time in Commercial Production Kitchen
- Specialized Workshops and Mentor Sessions
- Professional Services Offerings (accounting, marketing, etc)
How to Participate
General Participant Requirements:
- Commitment to education/workshop/coaching requirements
- Adherence to both program and kitchen operational guidelines/rules
- Products made from regionally sourced agricultural materials (at or above 60% local ingredients or plan to get to that sourcing level)
- Proper permits/licensing/insurance in place for using commercial kitchen
What to Expect After Applying:
- Intake Assessment with Food & Farm team (program fit, permit needs, sourcing, etc)
- Pre-Program Support with Permitting (if applicable)
- Program Starts with Kitchen Onboarding Stage (after permit applications submitted)
For questions or more info, please email fbrc@businessimpactnw.org
This project is funded in part by a grant from the King Conservation District and in partnership with 21 Acres.
FAQ
The Food & Farm Business Incubator at 21 Acres is focused on providing food production space and wraparound educational training for farm businesses and packaged food businesses who source ingredients primarily from local agricultural producers. This program will support development and market testing of value-added and packaged food products from entrepreneurs focused on local sourcing.
Interested applicants can visit the program webpage for more info on the program benefits and time commitments. Submitted applications will be reviewed for program fit and accepted into the program on a rolling basis based on kitchen capacity and stage of business.
- Business Training and One-on-One Coaching
- Access to Production Kitchen and Support
- Tiered Cost System from No-Cost, % subsidized, to Market Rate depending on program stage
- Specialized Training and Mentorship
- Connections to other Business Owners
- Access to Capital and Market Opportunities
To use the kitchen at 21 Acres, businesses must either source the majority of their ingredients locally or be working toward doing so, in line with the local sourcing requirement. Catering and food trucks are not permitted due to the site's specific use guidelines. Examples of products made in the kitchen include herbed sea salts, pickles, peach jam, salsa, soup, mushroom jerky, cookies, marinara, and many other items.
You should have an idea of what food or food product you are interested in producing. You will also need to obtain a business license, food handlers’ card, Certificate of insurance, WSDA or King County permit (depending on what and who you are selling to) and a few other documents. The great news is, we can help you through all these processes and are here to help support you.
Participants in the incubator program receive free specialized training and business coaching during the program. That technical assistance will continue to be available to participants after their program time ends. Kitchen rental pricing varies depending on the program stage. It starts at no cost during the initial onboarding/training period, followed by below-market-rate pricing that increases to market-rate pricing as a participant progresses and eventually graduates from the kitchen.
One of the benefits is the opportunity to sell your packaged goods in the 21 Acres on-site farm market. If you have sourced 60% of your products locally and your food items are sustainable and prepared locally, the Farm Market manager will consider selling your products at the market. There is also a quarterly farm market at 21 Acres that is free for vendors.
If you are interested in the incubator program, complete the intake application here: https://businessimpactnw.org/food-business-resource-center/incubator-program/
Participants will have access to their own business coach and on-site support from the Incubator Kitchen Manager. Staff members will also help keep participants connected and informed of other programs, trainings, resources, and opportunities offered through Business Impact NW.
Business Impact NW has a lending arm and Capital Readiness Services that can support businesses looking for capital to grow. Program staff can also help pass along funding opportunities through grants, specialized loans, and/or other sources.