New-to-state company aims to teach food businesses how to grow

“Bryden journeyed across nine states to assess the nature of the food-service industry, which she had seen wilt under the pandemic as restaurants were closed and workers thrown out of jobs.

After a stop in Northwest Arkansas, visiting with economic development officials and food-related entrepreneurs and vendors, Bryden decided the area was ripe for her company's offerings.

"When I got to Northwest Arkansas, I was overwhelmed by the amount of entrepreneurial spirit emerging from the area," she says. "It really shocked me."

Cureate, founded in Washington, D.C., in 2014, opened its first regional office in Bentonville last July and by the fall was offering courses to 10 area businesses that participated in an eight-week business development initiative that targeted food and beverage entrepreneurs.

Now, Cureate is preparing to start another cohort in February in a business-development initiative that offers support to chefs, bakers, farmers market vendors, food-truck operators, caterers and restaurateurs and bar owners. "We are completely open to anyone involved in the food-supply chain," Bryden said.

The application process closes today and the program begins Feb. 25 with an in-person session in Bentonville. The course is open to all Arkansas-based businesses in the food and beverage sector. Weekly sessions, lasting a few hours, will be conducted virtually after the opening and graduation is in April with a pitch competition to award $5,000 to the winner.

More information is available and applications can be submitted through 5 p.m. today at cureate.co/courses-nwa.

Forge Inc., a revolving community loan fund, provides financial support for the initiative.”

Read more: arkansasonline.com/news/2022/jan/23/new-to-state-company-aims-to-teach-food