Local News

Grant helps Eustis study food processing

December 07, 2007

FOOI Inc. of Eustis Nebraska was awarded a BECA Grant from the State of Nebraska to explore the opportunities and feasibilities of starting food processing businesses in the Village of Eustis.

The community is rich in German heritage and has several ethnic food producers among its residents.

The BECA grants are designed to “help depressed rural areas of Nebraska build and sustain programs that generate and retain wealth in the communities located in those areas.”

The Food Processing Center at the University of Nebraska is assisting FOOI Inc. at looking at the feasibility of starting food businesses in their community and will evaluate the opportunity for a shared-use kitchen. A survey of Eustis residents was conducted to determine interest in starting food businesses and the surveys determined that there is vast interest in starting food businesses in several different food categories.

The Food Processing Center evaluated the feasibility of starting a shared-use kitchen and looking at the possibility of using existing community kitchens which are currently available in the community.

An evaluation of the existing kitchens showed that there is an opportunity to utilize these spaces to assist in the start-up of food businesses. An analyzes of shared-use kitchens looked at four operating kitchens in various locations in the United States and researched some of the opportunities and challenges of their operations.

All four kitchens discussed the criticality of having outside support for the beginning years of the project to help off-set the operating cost.

Five kitchens in the Eustis area were evaluated to determine their availability for processing food products and all five were considered to be strong possibilities. Three of the sites would require limited investment to meet the requirements of a shared-use kitchen and two sites were vacant buildings that could be built to specification.

The FOOI group has taken the first step in determining the feasibility of starting food businesses in its community by bringing the Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program to the community. Eustis will need to evaluate its unique challenges and opportunities before opening a facility.

One of the identified opportunities is the rich German heritage the community offers and the many different products that could build on this heritage. Also, one of the identified challenges would be the population of Eustis and the surrounding communities.

Actively engaging local youth by offering entrepreneur classes and workshops with special emphasis on food would be a positive way to generate more business opportunities for the youth. Engaging youth in community planning discussions is paramount for the future success of the community.