Laurel Kitchen Incubator & Commissary Kitchen

The Kitchen Incubator at Laurel Technical Institute in Sharon, PA is a shared commercial kitchen space (commissary kitchen) open to the public on evenings and weekends. The dynamic process of culinary entrepreneurial development is designed to increase business success through consultation services, coaching, access to shared resources, and office facilities.   The purpose of the Culinary Incubation program is to create an atmosphere that encourages the development of businesses that promise a public or private good, have the potential to create single or multiple additional jobs, and contribute to the economic development of the region once formally established.

The school also offers a Student Business Incubation program which is an extracurricular program designed to provide a nurturing, supportive environment to Laurel's curriculum-based students and/or alumni who want to start their own business.  The Laurel Kitchen Incubator is available free to culinary alumni for six months after graduation. Beyond that grace period, additional rent applies and is available to the general public based on space and availability. 

The Laurel Kitchen Incubator

LKI is a community-driven support system that combines resources, knowledge, and experience to help local food entrepreneurs succeed. We provide education, promote food access, and offer support to our kitchen members and to the community around us.

At LKI, food entrepreneurs will find:

• below-market-rate licensed kitchen facilities
• food-focused entrepreneurial education
• a network of markets, investors, mentors
• a community of passionate, like-minded peers

We work with branding experts, local printing/label companies, wholesale pricing venues, and regional distribution outlets to bring a host of valuable services to our tenants at a discount. We have monthly tenant networking and support meetings along with several showcasing events throughout the year.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

 

 

Community

 

You’ll be a part of a working community of like-minded foodpreneurs.

Commercial Equipment

 

You have full use of our commercial kitchen facilities and high-quality equipment.

Resources

 

We bring together all the resources you need to build a successful food business.

 

Support Network

 

You’ll get the support you need to grow your business the right way.

Business Help

 

Get the help you need, when you need it. Tap into our years of experience with food startups.

Education 

 

Join our Kitchen convos and learn more about the complex food and beverage industry.