About Springboard
Providing the space for food entrepreneurship, food education and training programming, Springboard is a natural outgrowth of the collaborations between St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Urban Acres, and residents of Peoria's North Valley. Ideally located on Spring Street, already the host space for the North Valley Famers Market, Springboard is aiming to open its doors Fall 2022!
“Having a space to cook allows for small businesses like mine to grow and their footing in the local economy... This space allowed me to explore several avenues for my business model, learn where I fit within the Peoria economy, and contribute to a community that deeply matters to me. To say I am grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to use a commercially licensed kitchen in Peoria is an understatement. ”
- Jam Rohr, Owner, UpBeet Jams
Why Springboard?
Now, more than ever, we are acutely aware of the need for accessibility to healthy food, food education, and opportunities for economic development. The dependence on food pantries, employment and general economic uncertainty being manifest by COVID-19 gives us an opportunity to reshape our local economy and change how we address these issues going forward. We will need food start-ups to help reimagine the economy in central Illinois. In the tri-county area, we do not have another commercial kitchen space available for food entrepreneurs.
Our
Mission
First, we will provide a space to encourage sustainable, healthy eating through food education—dietician-led programming, teaching healthy cooking (and eating), and equipping people with the actual items to create healthier food in their own kitchens. Second, we will provide economic opportunity and empowerment through affordable rental of the commissary, giving start-ups a much-needed place to begin their journey. Access to a licensed kitchen is often a prohibitive barrier of entry for small food start-ups—we aim to "springboard" local entrepreneurs by eliminating that barrier.
“We are excited to work with Urban Acres and St. Paul’s to reduce health disparities in our community and achieve health equity. Springboard Kitchen will give us a place to serve as our home base to reach more families.”
- Julie Eliathamby Ryan, Peoria Grown
