What's happening
This bill requires a study on the economic impact of expanding kitchen incubators across New York, especially on college campuses.
Why it matters
Addresses a key barrier for food entrepreneurs. The bill targets the lack of affordable commercial kitchen space, which is a major challenge for start-up food businesses. By studying ways to optimize kitchen incubators, it aims to lower entry barriers for aspiring food entrepreneurs.
Focuses on supporting minority and immigrant communities. The legislation specifically requires analysis of how expanded kitchen incubators can boost entrepreneurship among minority and immigrant populations, groups that are increasingly active in New York’s food sector but often face additional hurdles.
Leverages college campuses for economic development. By considering the expansion of kitchen incubators within SUNY, CUNY, and independent colleges, the bill explores how educational institutions can serve as hubs for business innovation, job creation, and community engagement.
Could inform future investment and policy. The required report will generate recommendations for creation, funding, and expansion of kitchen incubators, potentially shaping future state programs and investments to strengthen New York’s culinary industry and small business ecosystem.
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Study Kitchen Incubator Impact
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6101
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 23, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, AUBRY, FINCH, JAFFEE, MOYA, RAMOS, RIVERA, RODRIGUEZ, SEPULVEDA -read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT in relation to requiring the Empire State development corporation in consultation with the state university of New York, the city university of New York and the commission on independent colleges and universities to study the economic impact of optimizing kitchen incubators in New York state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds that in order to improve the economic opportunities for its citizens and entrepreneurs, it must use the established capabilities of its university systems to offer space and resources to the next generation of food manufacturing businesses.
It has been documented that the chief obstacle for start-up food manufacturing businesses is their inability to access affordable commercial kitchen space. Currently all over the state, there are only a few kitchen incubators facing high demand and unable to meet the needs of the many potential start-up businesses.
Kitchen incubators are valuable resources for New York state as it moves to promote more job development, business development and increased tax revenues.
In New York City alone, there are more than 900 food firms, with over 16,000 employees and another 2,500 who are self-employed. This has been viewed as evidence of entrepreneurs' intent on developing their food manufacturing ideas into full scale production capabilities and fully functional business entities.
Minority and immigrant populations are growing significantly throughout the state and so are their number in entrepreneurship activities, including in the development of foods from their native place of origin
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07929-01-7
A. 6101 2
and this creates growing demand for such foods by increasing minority and immigrant communities.
Kitchen incubators housed at select college campuses throughout New York state and New York city will help develop new entrepreneurs and increase the economic benefits of such activities for the entire state.
However, New York must do more to propel these business start-ups and potential manufacturers into full scale operations and should move to allow its university systems to expand their regional economic catalyst activities to serve entrepreneurs looking to enter the food manufacturing sector.
§ 2. For purposes of this act, the term "kitchen incubator" shall mean an affordable small space with shared ovens, ranges, industrial mixers and other commercial kitchen equipment, to be rented by entrepreneurs to assist them in the development and/or manufacturing of food products for commercial purposes.
§ 3. a. The Empire State Development Corporation, in consultation with the state university of New York, the city university of New York, and the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities and groups selected by the Empire State Development Corporation, shall study and examine the potential economic impact for optimizing kitchen incubators in New York state including establishing and/or expanding such opportunities in the state university of New York, the city university of New York, and the Commission on Independent Colleges.
b. The study conducted pursuant to this section shall evaluate the impact of such optimization on entrepreneurship efforts in growing minority and immigrant populations.
c. The Empire State Development Corporation shall create a report containing recommendations for the creation, funding and future expansion of kitchen incubators throughout the state and on college campuses; and increasing entrepreneurial success in the culinary industry, by providing comprehensive advisory and business development services along with access to facilities and equipment in a co-working environment conducive to collaboration, networking and mentorship.
d. The report compiled by the Empire State Development Corporation pursuant to paragraph c of this section shall be submitted to the governor and the legislature not later than May 1, 2018.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.