Food Start U.P. is one step closer to achieving its mission of creating the first food business incubator and shared food production space in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula! This new nonprofit has reached yet another milestone in a mission that started with a townhall meeting of food entrepreneurs almost three years ago.
Food Start U.P. recently received its acceptance letter from the IRS confirming its 501(c)(3) status and has been further designated as a 509 (a)(2) Public Charity.
According to Teresa Mauldin, President, Board of Directors, “Food Start U.P. will provide food processing space & equipment, food business education, mentoring, technical assistance, cooperative programs among food entrepreneurs, real opportunities in food industry job training and much, much more.”
Teresa is excited about the organization’s vision for future initiatives, collaboration and partnerships that will positively impact the region’s food supply chain, as well as the health of the economy and communities across the Upper Peninsula. According to Teresa, Food Start U.P. aims at reducing the current barriers of food entrepreneurship and food security in the U.P. by fostering living wage jobs, increased access to locally produced food products and by providing the food industry expertise, production space and resources critical to starting up and scaling up a successful food business.
“The Board has so many ideas and cannot wait to move our vision forward.”
Food Start U.P. plans to launch a fundraising campaign in the very near future. For more information about the organization, follow their Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin pages. Food Start U.P.’s website will be launched this summer.
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