Española, NM – The !Sostenga! Commercial Kitchen on Northern’s Española campus will once again serve the community thanks to a partnership between the College, Rio Arriba County and the Rio Grande Development Corporation’s Siete del Norte.
According to Siete Del Norte, the goal of the project is to act as a business incubator, supporting the creation of new food businesses across northern New Mexico. It is designed to support regional farmers and ranchers interested in starting their own businesses by providing a facility to get them started.
“We are excited to be working with Northern as a trusted community leader and advocate that embraces cultural sustainability and quality student learning,” Siete Del Norte President Todd Lopez said. “We are hopeful that our partnership will create opportunities for Northern students and emerging entrepreneurs in the community.”
The kitchen will be an FDA licensed commercial kitchen outfitted with commercial-grade cooking and filling equipment. Clients will also have access to training and mentorship through the project and its partners.
“The support of this partnership gives new life to the possibility of sustaining the commercial kitchen in a way the College was unable to do on its own,” Northern President Nancy Barcelo said.
The !Sostenga! kitchen was closed in 2012 due to limited financial resources.
Other partners include Rio Arriba County, Delicious New Mexico, the Regional Development Corporation and Los de Mora Local Growers Farmer’s Cooperative.
Tagged: Commercial Kitchen, Sostenga
