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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-22 EDAC Minutes ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES March 22, 2023 City of Kitchener A virtual meeting of the Economic Development Advisory Committee was held at 12:00 p.m. on March 22, 2023. Chaired by Chuck Howitt. Present: Mark Bingeman, Joe Curto, Chuck Howitt, Oanh Kasperski, Laura Rodriguez Reyes, Dave Schnider, Graham Trusler Absent: Ali Akbar, Ben Campbell, Srikanth Desikackar, Margaret Johnston, Paul Kreutner, Matt Kruschack, Jason Malfara, Keean Sarani, Paul Singh, Barclay Whittaker Staff: Darren Becks, Brian Bennett, Cory Bluhm, Cameron Dale, Chris Farrell, Katelyn Remus, Emily Robson Discussion Items 1. Welcome, Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof, Approval of February Minutes No pecuniary interests disclosed. Minutes were not approved as quorum was not reached. 2. Commercial Kitchen Presenetation Cameron Dale presented the Food Incubation program the Kitchener Market is developing. Presentation is appended below. The following questions were asked to the committee: - What do you see as the biggest strengths of this program proposal? - Where can you see the biggest impacts to our local food economy as a result of this program? - Are there any other connections between this proposal and wider EDAC gials that you would like to see explored? - What are the challenges/areas of concern you see with this proposal? 1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES March 22, 2023 City of Kitchener Committee questions/comments: - Hours of operation? Cameron answered: 7am-9pm - Businesses can forget to pay themselves - Suggestion to gain insight from different clientele (people doing packaged goods vs. restaurant type) as they are two different things - Renting out the commercial kitchen- what else is out there? City going into private sector business? Is this a concern? - Suggestion to figure of how many individuals space can support at 100% occupancy - Is all the equipment listed needed? Does it have to be new equipment? Can buy used? - Have you talked to other incubator groups? What works in their model of scaling? o Cameron mentioned they have talked to other food incubators - What is the impact on the community? Speak to quantitative and qualitative side Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 1 p.m. Next meeting: April 26, 2023 2 What would this projections Program costs