The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is historic and modern, all at the same time. The mission of the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) at UDC is to offer research-based academic and community outreach programs that improve quality of life and economic opportunity of people and communities in the District of Columbia, the nation, and the world.
About the UDC Shared Commercial Kitchens
CAUSES offers commercial kitchens situated in the heart of Washington D.C. The commercial kitchen facilities and their three components of food production, preparation, and distribution seek to offer urban communities sustainable alternatives to food-based entrepreneurship and food access that address local food security.
Each year, thousands of food service operators (entrepreneurs & small businesses) struggle to find affordable shared kitchens to prepare and store their food. Because of this, these food service operators often go out of business after the first year because they can’t afford the cost of the shared space.
As a part of the Center for Nutrition, Diet, and Health (CNDH), this program provides infrastructure and training across all student demonstration kitchens and commercial kitchen facilities, supporting aspiring and under-resourced entrepreneurs and non-profits in the district.
Managed by the Senior Program Coordinator of Food Safety Systems, the UDC food safety systems program and its commercial kitchen facilities act as a business incubator, providing entrepreneurs and local small businesses with kitchen management training and access to fully equipped commercial kitchens at a reduced rate.
