Big ideas were on the menu Wednesday night in New Bedford’s North End.
On Wednesday evening, March 11, the Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) officially introduced its licensed commercial kitchen facility to the public during a well-attended open house at 235 N. Front Street. The event welcomed aspiring chefs, bakers, caterers, and food entrepreneurs eager to learn how the space can help turn their culinary ideas into thriving businesses.
CEDC Executive Director Corinn Williams and Kitchen Coordinator Jess Morgado (standing, center of picture) led the evening, giving visitors an inside look at the professionally equipped kitchen and explaining how local entrepreneurs can use the facility to launch, test, and grow food-based businesses.
The kitchen is located in the basement of the former Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, right next door to the CEDC offices. Upgrades to the facility were made possible by a grant from MassDevelopment’s TDI Local program.
For many attendees, the event highlighted something powerful: access.
Starting a food business requires more than a great recipe. It requires a licensed kitchen, professional equipment, and a space that meets health and safety regulations — resources that can be difficult or expensive for small entrepreneurs to secure. The CEDC kitchen helps remove those barriers by offering an affordable, shared space where entrepreneurs can produce food legally and professionally.
Guests toured the facility, asked questions about membership and scheduling, and learned how the kitchen can support a wide range of ventures — from catering companies and food trucks to specialty baked goods, packaged foods, and farmers market favorites.
The new kitchen represents another important step in supporting New Bedford’s growing community of food entrepreneurs. From Portuguese pastries and seafood specialties to Central American, Cape Verdean, and Latin American cuisine, the city’s culinary creativity continues to expand — and spaces like this help ensure local talent has the tools it needs to succeed.
Wednesday night’s open house was just the beginning.
If you’ve ever dreamed about starting a food business — or taking your current operation to the next level — the CEDC commercial kitchen may be the ingredient you’ve been waiting for.
Learn more about how you can cook up your next opportunity by contacting CEDC Kitchen Coordinator Jess Morgado at jess@cedcnewbedford.org.
