Start-up funding coming to Edmonton food producers

City councillors in Edmonton have voted to provide start-up funding for a space that will help local food producers scale up their operations and earn a spot on supermarket shelves.

Founder Kirsta Franke believes the project called “The Public,” which will have a kitchen and distribution space, will help local food producers reach a larger market.

The group asked for 600-thousand dollars from the city to set up a 15-thousand square-foot space with state-of-the-art and government-regulated kitchen space, a brewing area, dry and cold storage and office space.

Several councillors said they were comfortable supporting the investment and that it would help to further diversity the city’s economy.