The Carver Food Enterprise Center is a shared-use commercial kitchen and food business entrepreneur incubator. Our goal is to provide services to the five-county region of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties in three categories; increasing food security, economic development, and job training. To accomplish this goal, we have divided the build out of the kitchen facilities into three phases.  This phasing will allow us to assess needs throughout construction and growth, responsibly leverage resources from partners and investors, and grow community participation in a meaningful way. 

Over $1.5 million dollars has been raised for the construction and equipment for phase 1 of the project.  We have been actively fundraising to complete the kitchen.  Construction projects we hope to complete in 2025 include our co-packing area, dish room, bathrooms, and shipping and receiving area.  This will allow us to expand our services to include more value-added production of local agricultural products and greater availability of rental commercial kitchen space.  

A break down of items that we still need funding for are below:

Stainless Steel Prep Tables - $1,500

Tilt Skillet - $25,000 ($14,573 funded by USDA Farm to School Grant, $10,427 still needed)

Continuous Feed Food Processor - $6,787 ($4411 funded by USDA Farm to School Grant, $2,376 still needed)

Backup Generator - $39,000 ($15,000 donated by Loeb Foundation, $24,000 more needed)

Pallet Jack - $5,000 

Office Space - $100,000

Classroom - $100,000

Meat Slicer - $1,500

Lockable Storage Units - $1,875

Floor Scrubber - $3,000

Three Pot Sink - $3,000

Double Stack Convection Ovens - $20,600 (funding request for $10,300 pending)

Propane Tanks - $10,000 (funding request pending)

Pulper / Pureer - $7,300 (funding request pending)

Combo Freezer / Cooler - $90,000 (funding request pending)

7' Type 1 Hood - $10,000 (funding request pending)

40-gallon steam kettle - $15,000 (funding request pending)

Freeze Dryer - $10,000 (funding request pending)

60-Quart Stand Mixer - $8,000 (funding request pending)

Water Activity Meter - $9,674 (partially funded, $3,500 still needed for calibration and supplies)

Construction of Co-Packing Area - $543,217 (funding request pending)

Construction of Dry-Storage Area - $228,991 (funding request pending)

Construction of Cold-Storage Area - $228,991 (funding request pending)

Construction of Dish Room - $120,000 (funding request pending)

Below is a concept image of the completed George Washington Carver Food Enterprise Center

Additionally, there is a need for funding for our Stone Soup Job Skills Training and Food Rescue Programs.  It costs $5,000 to train each cohort of 10 Stone Soup participants.  It costs $2,500 to run a Feeding 500 event in which we process rescued food into soups and other nourishing meals for 500 people with volunteer support.   As the next phase of construction is completed, we will be able to increase our capacity for both of these programs.  

Our annual operating costs include the salaries of our Program Director and a future Kitchen Manager.  That annual cost for those positions will be $127,000.