Mayor Rahm Emanuel broke ground on The Hatchery Chicago, a new food and beverage business incubator in East Garfield Park. The Hatchery is a partnership between local non-profits, Accion Chicago, ICNC and IFF, and two corporate partners, the Kellogg Company and Conagra Brands. The 67,000-square-foot facility will support local food and beverage entrepreneurs by providing them with tools and resources to reach success. The approximately $34 million facility is expected to create an estimated 150 jobs in the first year. The Hatchery will provide a variety of services and space for food businesses, including: food grade space for approximately 100 start-up or early stage food entrepreneurs, shared kitchens, storage, and office space, plus areas for workforce training sessions and community meetings. Through a partnership with the Garfield Park Community Council (GPCC), access to many of these spaces and services will be offered to West Side residents at a significantly discounted rate.
The project was made possible by $8 million in City funding plus support through the New Markets Tax Credit. It is also receiving support from the Kellogg Company, Conagra Brands, Griffith Foods, The Lukas Walton Fund of the Walton Family Foundation, The Pritzker Traubert Foundation and The Coleman Foundation, among others.