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Yuma Food Business Incubator - Restaurant Startup Boot Camp

ARIZONA COMMUNITY COLLEGE COORDINATING

Foundation Grants for StartupsSmall Business GrantsWorkforce Development Grants
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Funding Amount

$145,000 grant (for program operations)

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Yuma Food Business Incubator - Restaurant Startup Boot Camp

Overview: A four-week intensive boot camp program designed to help aspiring food entrepreneurs grow their food business from ideation to marketplace.

Funding Source: $145,000 grant from Arizona Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Arizona Western College institutional funding

Partner Organization: Local First Arizona Foundation

Geographic Scope: Yuma, Arizona

Program Duration: 4 weeks (cohort-based)

Eligibility:

  • Aspiring food entrepreneurs

  • Food truck operators, caterers, food producers and packagers, other food-related business founders

  • Selection is competitive based on applications

    • Class Size: Limited (first cohort: 7 students, second cohort: 5 students)

    Facilities Provided: Yuma Commercial Kitchen space at AWC Yuma Campus with full commercial kitchen equipment

    Curriculum Includes:

  • Food safety training

  • Cooking techniques

  • Food service purchasing and permitting

  • Financing and marketing

  • Front and back of house operations

  • Food service logistics

  • Day-to-day operations

  • Food service math

  • Business analysis and planning

    • Support Provided: Mentorship from industry professionals, guidance from business faculty

    Cost:

  • Initial cohorts: No cost (fully funded)

  • Future cohorts: Low cost through AWC Continuing Education

    • Leadership:

  • Local First Arizona's Director of Food Programs: Gabe Gardner

  • AWC Culinary Arts Professor: Robert Gedeon

  • Chef: Robert Nidiffer (co-director)

    • Contact Information:

  • Arizona Western College Workforce Development and Career and Technical Education

  • Vice President: Reetika Dhawan

  • Email: info@azcommunitycolleges.org

    • How to Apply

    Application Process

    1. Submit application to Arizona Western College
    2. Applications reviewed competitively
    3. Selected participants notified of acceptance
    4. Cohorts begin at designated start dates

    Application Details: Specific application materials not detailed in source document

    Note: Program is expanding and AWC is actively applying for additional grant funds to grow the initiative

    Apply with Grantable Learn more

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    startupssmall-businessesworkforce-development

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