Economic Development Through Entrepreneurship
FRESNO, CA - Downtown Fresno-area residents and workers may soon be able to shop at a unique “corner” store that sells fresh, locally grown produce and benefits local growers as well.
A recent $20,000 Kaiser Permanente Fresno Community Benefit grant will allow the Central Valley Business Incubator to fund the development phase for implementing the nonprofit, co-operative store planned for the northeast corner of Divisadero Street and Van Ness Avenue.
The grocery store’s goal is to bring community and local farmers together to provide a variety of fresh, high-quality healthful food options from local growers at reasonable prices. The project also may include plans for a commercial kitchen business incubator.
“Kaiser Permanente is committed to addressing the barriers to healthy eating and active living in our communities,” said Susan Ryan, Sr. Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser’s Fresno Service Area. “Projects like this, and our weekly farmers’ market at our Medical Center, address the environment, culture and social norms that make our Valley a better place to live, learn, work and play.”
“We are honored to receive this grant from Kaiser,” said CVBI CEO Craig Scharton. “This project is a new initiative for CVBI. The goal of this project is to develop a plan for a store that meets community needs and also supports locally grown and produced foods. We like the fact that we get to use the entrepreneurial skills of CVBI to fill a community need.”
With the support of community partners Fresno Business Council; City of Fresno and Fresno Redevelopment Agency; California State University, Fresno; and Fresno Farm Bureau, CVBI is using the Kaiser-funded grant to create a business plan, develop community support for the project and conduct a public presentation to city officials and community leaders.
Because the store will be a nonprofit or food co-op, a board of appointed or elected officials will be formed. The final business plan will include procedures for hiring key employees such as a manager and finance personnel.
“Once a business plan is in place and the store launches on its own, it will evolve into a virtual member that can then utilize the resources of CVBI from that point on,” said Scharton.
About the Central Valley Business Incubator
The Central Valley Business Incubator is a public/private partnership fueled by community resources. CVBI helps startup companies launch successfully by creating an entrepreneurial community where people learn how to balance their passion and ideas with the structure of running a successful business. CVBI offers business development classes and houses five on-site members at each of its two facilities – the Launching Pad for mixed-use incubation and the Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator.
Founded in 1996, CVBI is a nonprofit organization that fosters economic development through entrepreneurship and job creation. It has worked with more than 3,400 entrepreneurs who have obtained more than $14.5 million in capital and created 2,030 direct, direct, verifiable new jobs for Central Californians.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente, founded in 1945, is a nonprofit integrated health care organization, with physicians, nurses, and staff working in collaboration to provide high quality care to its members and address the health care needs of its communities. The Northern California Region serves over 3.3 million members. It includes 6,000 physicians in The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) and about 66,000 employees. The region has 19 major medical centers. Each year, Kaiser Permanente invests more than $375 million to programs benefiting Northern California communities.
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