AURORA, Wis. –Shared-use kitchens provide certified kitchen space to food businesses that need a facility for preparing and storing food products.

While this movement is relatively young, its business model has grown dramatically in the past 15 years. These kitchens are a valuable resource to small and growing food businesses that otherwise face high costs to own or lease a commercial kitchen for their sole use.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College houses a commercial kitchen at the NWTC-Aurora Center, formerly Hillcrest School, at 2030 Calvary Drive in Aurora.

The certified, fully equipped commercial kitchen is available for use by growers, food processors, caterers, restaurants, chefs, special event food vendors, bakers, groups and other organizations.

The kitchen is inspected and certified for commercial use, allowing users to become licensed to produce and sell food items in accordance with state regulations. Users have access to dry storage, cold storage, freezer storage, range, commercial and convection ovens, induction cooktop, skillets, pots/pans, mixer, proofer, food processor, packaging heat seal, prep tables, dishwasher, ice machine, and easy access to the parking lot for food trucks and more. Keycard entry is available for 24/7 access for kitchen processors.

Several packages are available — from one-time use of the kitchen to unlimited use options, which also includes labeling, packaging, marketing, distribution, and help creating a business plan.

To learn more about the kitchen or to schedule a visit, contact Mindy Angle, NWTC Woodland Kitchen assistant at mindy.angle@nwtc.edu or call 715-589-2768.