The Starting Block

Since 2006, The Starting Block has served as West Michigan’s nonprofit regional kitchen incubator and entrepreneurial center. As a shared-use facility, it helps entrepreneurs start their food-related businesses at reasonable rentals without the initial investment in costly facilities and equipment. The Starting Block offers low-cost kitchen rental, refrigerated, frozen, and dry storage, warehouse space, and office rental. From product development to marketing and outreach, it provides the assistance and support to help people achieve their business dreams. The Starting Block offers a fully-equipped licensed, commercial kitchen as well as two additional commercial, licensed kitchens for specialty and small-scale production, including a USDA-inspected meat processing facility and a dairy production facility with a pasteurizer. The USDA-inspected meat processing incubator facility is the only one in the state, and one of few in the country. Certified staff in food handling and equipment operation are available for assistance and training. The Starting Block kitchens and meat facility are available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.