Press Release
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Fluvanna County Commercial Kitchen was held Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the Fluvanna County Community Center, in Fork Union.
Collaboration between the county of Fluvanna and the Fluvanna Office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, begun in 2015, culminated in the creation of a commercial kitchen in an existing space in the Fluvanna County Community Center. The new commercial kitchen provides the Central Virginia community with a 300 square-foot licensed commercial kitchen rental facility.
Jennifer Schmack, Fluvanna County Director of Economic Development, said, “The commercial kitchen will add to the entrepreneurial energy of Fluvanna’s small business community, to help strengthen a viable pathway to foster future growth, the opportunity to expand, and do so in Fluvanna County.”
The kitchen features a commercial six-burner stove, large refrigerator and freezer, stainless steel serving line, stainless steel prep line, three compartment cleaning sink, and a dishwasher. Target users of the commercial kitchen include small business owners and startups interested in food production. In partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, the commercial kitchen will also provide space for educational programming.
“Having one space to conduct family nutrition education programs while also supporting food business entrepreneurs is a unique opportunity. We are grateful for the partnership with Fluvanna County that has turned this vision into reality,” says Kim Mayo, senior extension agent for Fluvanna County.
Fluvanna County Parks and Recreation Director Aaron Spitzer, stated, “Opening the commercial kitchen has been a long process; now that it is opening it will be another great asset to our community, providing county residents with an opportunity to fulfill their dreams of starting a business in the food industry.”
Fluvanna County Parks and Recreation will begin accepting rental applications on Jan. 2.
For more information visit www.fluvannacounty.org or contact Aaron Spitzer, Director of Parks and Recreation at 434-589-2016 or aspitzer@fluvannacounty.org or Jennifer Schmack, Director of Economic Development at 434-591-1921 or jschmack@fluvannacounty.org.
