Program Name: Urban Horizons Kitchen

Program Overview: WHEDCO created a kitchen incubator program to stimulate small business development in the food industry of New York City through the rental of a 4,000 square foot, state-of-the art, commercial kitchen space. This program enables a base of micro-entrepreneurs to enter New York’s food industry, which otherwise lacks access to high quality and affordable commercial kitchen space. The Urban Horizons Kitchen is a dynamic and growing business incubator, which holds great potential for job training and jobs creation for participants in our workforce development program.

The WHEDCO kitchen is unique in terms of its size, flexible usage, affordability, and convenient location. It offers aspiring entrepreneurs with home-based businesses access to a larger workspace, a commercially licensed and insurable facility for production, and high-quality equipment and amenities. The vast majority of our tenants previously worked out of their home. At Urban Horizons, tenants are required to incorporate in order to secure insurance covering product liability, thereby joining economic mainstream (securing insurance, paying taxes, etc.). Additionally, the kitchen gives new small business owners an opportunity to expand operations without incurring fixed costs from building or buying space and equipment. They also learn from one another, and benefit from business technical assistance that is provided by WHEDCO staff.

Our Kitchen Features Include:

§ Convection and conventional ovens, many ranges with dozens of burners

§ Fully-equipped with cooking and baking supplies

§ Loading dock for receiving and deliveries

§ Huge walk-in refrigerators and freezers

§ Secure, locked dry storage

§ Convenient location just off major NYC highways, two blocks from a subway stop

§ On-site technical assistance staff

Program Reach: The Urban Horizons kitchen draws from across the New York metropolitan area, with an emphasis on women- and minority-owned businesses.

In 2004, over 30 entrepreneurs and start-up businesses have rented space, including 6 anchor clients (those renting the kitchen at least once a week), 15 caterers, and various community groups, services and individuals. The makjority of tenants previously had home-based businesses. Tenants are required to incorporate in order to secure insurance covering product liability

Representative Tenants:

§ Curry Source – A small Brooklyn-based takeout restaurant that prepares assorted curry-spiced foods. 

§ Fat Free Experience, Inc. – A Manhattan-based baker specializing in fat-free baked goods. 

§ Command Performance – A Harlem-based catering company.

§ Nana Pearl’s – A Manhattan-based baker, specializing in specialty cakes.

§ Artful Bakers – A small baker, specializing in confections hand-made in small batches.

October 2004