Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Planning a facility for value-added farm business incubation and educational use

Project ID: M2006-25

Abstract

A survey of the community and surrounding region was conducted to determine the financial viability of a shared-use certified kitchen, which would be offered as one of the services of the Midwest Center for Entrepreneurial Agriculture.

Key Question: Would a community kitchen in the Marshalltown area be able to launch value-added businesses, and, if so, what kind of facility is needed and how should it be run?

Findings: Similar projects located elsewhere would require a careful assessment of their own circumstances. A more detailed survey could be used and a comprehensive database of potential users should be compiled, along with a list of necessary attributes for marketing a "for-rent" facility. Because the college campus location had already been selected for this project, this survey did not collect data on the site for a potential kitchen, but such a determination would be a critical part of the process for another community.

Lead investigator: Linda Barnes, Marshalltown Community College, et al

Year of grant completion: 2009

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Marketing Initiative.

Topics: Business management, distribution and marketing, Fruit and vegetables, Market research and feasibility studies