The Loop CID and REDI are proud to announce that CoMo Cooks, a shared commercial Kitchen at Mizzou North, has received an operating permit from the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services and is now officially open for business.
CoMo Cooks will give all cooks a chance to turn their recipes into a business reality, regardless of background, income, or status. The goal is to increase entrepreneurial success by providing accessible, inclusive, and affordable kitchen space for starting and expanding local food-based businesses. Additional support provided by REDI and The Loop CID in the form of business coaching, shared branding, pop-ups and other promotions will help local food entrepreneurs succeed.
The CoMo Cooks project will benefit the community by:
Recognizing that the local community of makers, artisans, crafters, and cooks has a significant impact on our economy, REDI and The Loop CID teamed up to receive one of six national grants designed to help Columbia identify and support local, small-scale manufacturing along the Business Loop Corridor. This shared kitchen was a direct recommendation of that public visioning process and is even more critical today given the impact of COVID-19 on the local economy.
CoMo Cooks Kitchen Manager Kymberlee Matney came onto the team knowing there’s a huge need for a shared commercial kitchen here in Columbia— food-based businesses face significant start up hurdles because outfitting a kitchen is such a financial barrier. Como Cooks can now help them grow by offering an affordable kitchen combined with business support.
The kitchen offers tiered memberships starting at 10 hours a month with hourly fees starting at $15/hour. Potential clients interested in using the kitchen can contact
Kymberlee Matney at kymberlee@comocooks.com.
To learn more about the kitchen and to apply to use the kitchen, visit https://cre8como.com/como-cooks/
Take a virtual tour of the kitchen at https://theloopcomo.com/take-a-virtual-kitchen-tour/.
