The Clovis Culinary Center is available for cottage food industries with a sliding rate scale based on how much a business uses the space. Photo by Ben. Hensley

The Clovis Culinary Center will celebrate its fifth anniversary on June 27 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. featuring local businesses who got their start at the business incubator.

The center, located at 3185 Willow Ave., Suite F, in Clovis, opened its doors in 2018 and has helped turn more than 100 food entrepreneurs’ dreams into reality, offering a fully-equipped kitchen, mentorship and food-business essential resources to help budding entrepreneurs get their start.

“We are incredibly proud of the impact Clovis Culinary Center has made over the past five years,” said Tina Sumner, board chair and Clovis Culinary Center co-founder. “The program has not only empowered entrepreneurs to follow their passion but has also contributed to the local economy and enriched the community with delicious, innovative food offerings.”

The event will present guests with the opportunity to meet business owners who got their start at the center including Dad’s Cookies, The Grazing Table, Miguel’s Salsa and more. There will also be opportunities for sampling and networking.

Many of these businesses continue to operate and expand successfully, with The Grazing Table recently opening its doors in North Fresno, and Dad’s Cookies becoming more widely available throughout the Valley.

“We realized that these people can’t make over $50,000 a  year and continue creating this stuff in their house,” said Shawn Miller, business development manager at the City of Clovis in a feature story  on the center last November.

The center is funded partially through state, federal and private grants, and has assisted in the growth and development of 18 new businesses by low-income entrepreneurs. The center also works with two agencies to serve developmentally disabled adults and previously incarcerated women.

“We are excited to celebrate this milestone and look forward to continuing our mission of nurturing local food talent for many years to come,” Sumner said.

More information about the Clovis Culinary Center can be found at clovisculinarycenter.com or by contacting Kris Marshall at krismarshall@clovisculinarycenter.com or by phone at 559-765-1016.