“Town Made” Shared Kitchens in Wakefield Launch Scholarship Program for Food Entrepreneurs
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Town Made, a local food hub and shared kitchen facility in Wakefield, has announced the launch of its new scholarship program for food producers.
Scholarship recipients can receive no-cost access to Town Made’s commercial kitchens, storage solutions, and team of culinary and marketing experts. Designed to strengthen the local food system, scholarship eligibility is dependent on makers incorporating mostly local food ingredients in their products.
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About Scholarship
The Agriculture and Culinary Trades for Innovation and Opportunity Now (A.C.T.I.O.N) Scholarship will help farmers, bakers, chefs, meal prep businesses, community groups, schools and other food producers to reduce the costs of scaling their food ventures. To receive a scholarship, makers must use at least 51% local produce or food ingredients in the products made in the Town Made kitchens.
Makers that currently do not use local products, but are interested in doing so, will be assisted by Town Made in making local sourcing connections. For example, if a pie maker is currently utilizing store-bought apples, they can gain scholarship eligibility by instead sourcing apples from a local farm.
The A.C.T.I.O.N Scholarship aims to support local farmers by providing increased distribution outlets for their produce, reduce environmental impact of shipping ingredients from long distances, and stimulate activity in the local food and business economy. Other potential scholarship recipients include:
- School groups and community organizations producing bake sale items with local ingredients
- Farmers converting end-of-season crops into value added products, like a garlic farmer producing garlic infused oil
- Meal prep companies incorporating more local fruits and vegetables in their offerings
- Syrup or honey producers seeking professional facility to package their products
- Chefs and food product developers incorporating locally-sourced ingredients
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Since opening Town Made in May 2022, founder Ken Procaccianti and food and beverage director Rachael LaPorte have engaged with local farmers and other food policy stakeholders to learn about gaps in the Rhode Island food system.
“By enabling low and no cost access to our professional production kitchens, we hope to stimulate local entrepreneurship and keep the food that is grown here, right here in Southern Rhode Island," said Procaccianti.
Along with wife and pharmacist Christina, Procaccianti founded RI pharmacy and health care company Green Line Apothecary in 2016. Its uniquely nostalgic drugstores include old-fashioned soda fountains at which house made ice cream is served. Christina and Ken initially created Town Made as a production facility for Green Line’s ice cream and food products. Town Made’s state-of-the-art turnkey commercial kitchens are also available to its member Makers, which currently include food businesses like Gansett Craft Chocolate, 401 Garlic Sauce, Brooklyn Kitchens, and Brightside Seafood.
The Town Made A.C.T.I.O.N Scholarship is funded by a $482,070 grant from the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). According to the USDA, LFPP funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Town Made is a 2022 recipient of the USDA LFPP grant and contributed $120,442 in matching funds to support the program.
BIPOC community members and local farmers are strongly encouraged to apply. No prior culinary experience is required. Scholarship applications are currently being accepted at TownMade.com/scholarship.
About Town Made
Town Made’s shared commercial kitchens are a hub for food entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses. Makers, including food truck operators, caterers, bakers, and virtual restaurants, gain access to state-of-the-art cooking facilities, support team of experts and a Main Street location. To become a Maker, visit TownMade.com.
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