Our Programs Food Systems
Access to healthy, affordable food is essential for strong communities, yet many regions—especially rural and underserved areas—struggle with food insecurity and limited access to fresh, nutritious options. Strong regional food systems not only address these gaps but also create economic opportunities for local farmers and food businesses.
Our organization is committed to strengthening these systems by financing projects that expand healthy food access, support local food enterprises, and build resilient supply chains. By investing in regional food systems, we are ensuring that more communities have access to fresh, nutritious food while fostering local economic growth and sustainability.
A New Era for Food Entrepreneurs
The New Hill Development Corporation recently completed the construction of BEACON Kitchen, a 10,000 square-foot shared-use commercial kitchen in the heart of Charlottesville, VA, designed to support aspiring chefs, established food brands, and everyone in between. New Hill Development Corporation has a mission to expand economic opportunities to build wealth in Charlottesvilles’ Black community through financial coaching, entrepreneurial support, economic development, and asset building.
At the heart of these efforts is the BEACON Kitchen. BEACON provides professional grade facilities to serve all types of chefs and food businesses. Memberships at BEACON include access to modern appliances, spacious workstations, cold and dry storage, speciality equipment, and event space. On top of that, BEACON is more than a kitchen. Memberships also include marketing and back end office support.
Ultimately, BEACON Kitchen fosters a vibrant environment where chefs, food entrepreneurs, and culinary enthusiasts can come together to unleash their creativity and scale their business.
BEACON came together with the support of many partners, including the Community Investment Collaborative, Locus, the City of Charlottesville, the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, the Perry Foundation, and the Weissberg Foundation.
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