ScaleUp Kitchen accepting applications for 2nd year in a row

UPDATE (04/29/25): The application deadline has been extended until May 31.

JACKSON, Tenn. — If you’re a West Tennessee food service entrepreneur looking to advance your business, ‘ScaleUp Kitchen’ is in the Hub City for a second year.

Applications are open for ScaleUp Kitchen, a business development program aimed at supporting food entrepreneurs, which is powered by ford philanthropy and facilitated by the co.

“We’re taking applications for the program through May 5 and it will run with four day business accelerator, some one on one coaching, and workshops all for about the next 5 months,” said Lisa Garner, CEO of The Co.

The free program aims to empower 20 entrepreneurs with resources and technical assistance for their next steps.

“We’ll wrap up with a food showcase that hopefully all participating businesses will be a part of, and then we’ll have a pitch competition as well. The program is really built to kind of help food entrepreneurs scale and grow. Who’s a food entrepreneur? Anyone who has a restaurant, a food truck, a bakery — any kind of food service,” said Garner.

Here are the qualifying counties that can compete in scale up kitchen.

“Anyone that is a food entrepreneur could qualify as long as they’re within five counties. They need to be based in either Madison County, Haywood County, Hardeman, Tipton or Fayette County,” said Garner.

Take a look at last years first place ScaleUp Kitchen winners, Skillet Junction, located at 575 South Royal Street in Jackson.

SEE ALSO: Skillet Junction wins ScaleUp Kitchen competition, takes home $20,000 prize

Skillet Junction owners Jacob and Regina Richmond took home a $20,000 prize. They’re serving up delicious meals Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. here in the Hub City.

Garner, tells us more about the benefit of ScaleUp Kitchen.

“It’s really everything that helps them kind of learn how to be more profitable as a restaurant and a food-based business. It’s geared towards food costs and other means to scale like catering and those kinds of things. We bring in different experts and categories and then we have some mentorship,” said Garner.

The program’s initiative also prepares participants for regional procurement opportunities and enhances access to food in the growing region around BlueOval City.

For more information about ScaleUp Kitchen or the application process, click here.

For more news in the Jackson area, click here.