Adrian Armory Makerspace Kitchen
Need a Commercial Kitchen?
Our resources and training help you start a successful small food business!
Commercial Kitchen Overview
The Adrian Armory Makerspace Kitchen is a certified Commercial Kitchen located inside the Adrian Armory Community Center. The Lenawee County Health Department has reviewed our facility and certified it for others to use as a commercial kitchen.
Our goal is to support culinary entrepreneurs – industry chefs, bakers, retail, wholesale specialty food producers, caterers etc., get the resources they need to successfully create and market specialty food products. We also support food service entrepreneurs through our Launch Lenawee business development program, which focuses on education, networking, mentoring and micro lending. Your food business can help create a positive impact on the economic development of Lenawee County and the surrounding area.
The Adrian Armory Makerspace Kitchen is part of the Launch Lenawee Business Bootcamp and Small Business Development Center. We strongly recommend individuals who are beginning to think about starting a food business enroll in the Launch Lenawee program as a first step to developing a SUCCESSFUL SMALL FOOD BUSINESS!
Qualifications Needed
Please note: the following steps are necessary to have completed before your application is accepted.
Complete a Food Safety/Food Manager Certificate
Shared Kitchens (such as the Adrian Armory Makerspace Kitchen) require a high level of sanitation and insist that all users maintain high standards at all times. Most small businesses already have their ServSafe Certification and/or Food Manager Certification; however, if you do not, obtaining this certification is where you must begin. Information regarding certification can be found at: www.ServSafe.com or through the Lenawee County Health Department: www.lenawee.mi.us
Licensure
You will need your business license in order to work in our kitchen as a small business. This license applies to all who are looking ro get their business started by producing food and/or selling it in the community (retail). Licensing generally is completed through the Lenawee County Health Department or through the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD): www.michigan.gov/mdard
Liability Insurance
Adrian Armory Makerspace Kitchen requires a minimum of $1 Million general liability policy that names the Adrian Armory Makerspace Kitchen/Adrian Armory Community Center as co-insured.
Additional Requirements
An email account
A business bank account
You will need appropriate (per your product) packaging & labeling
All personal use items used in the Adrian Armory Makerspace Kitchen must be NSF approved equipment (for making/storing your products) and pre-approved by Adrian Armory Makerspace Kitchen staff.
We recognize that every small business is unique. Please complete all of the necessary preliminary information; once we review it, we can meet to talk about how we can best accommodate your business in our community environment.
What are your next steps?
Please read all the information above thoroughly and watch these three videos. These videos are required viewing for candidates interested in the Maker Space Kitchen and are the building blocks for food entrepreneurs, in general.
Business Setup from the Ground Up
Marketing Your Brand and Products
Labeling, Packaging and Distribution
Start Your Food Business at the Adrian Armory
Already have an established food business? Apply to use the Commercial Kitchen.
Just starting a business? Complete Launch Lenawee first.