The Early-Stage Food Business Incubator Program provided funding to various innovative food business incubators. This program focused on incubators serving emerging food businesses in communities with the greatest food insecurity and those with emerging food corridors. The Early-Stage Food Business Incubator Program was designed after intensive community engagement with the Food Equity Council to help expand, enhance, and restore the food industry using an equity and community-based approach. 

The City awarded 7 community-based organizations funds for innovative food incubator programs. These organizations designed custom programs which offered a range of technical assistance and capacity building support, such as: mentorship/apprenticeship programs, food stall rentals, kitchen and commercial space, retail pop-ups, co-working or office space and more.

Early-Stage Food Incubator Program Grantees: 

• BUILD, Incorporated
• Chicago’s Sunshine Enterprises
• DishRoulette Kitchen
• E.G. Woode
• Food He.Ro
• Good Food Catalyst (formally Family Farmed)
• Greater Chatham Initiative

Program Concluded December 2024