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Food businesses have traditionally been a way for striving immigrants and low-income families to gain a foothold in the economy, but many South King County chefs face barriers to starting a business. These barriers include a lack of affordable commercial kitchen and restaurant space, as well as challenges navigating unfamiliar systems.
In 2017, Food Innovation Network launched our Food Business Incubator to help South King County BIPOC and immigrants start and grow food businesses. Participants incubated businesses for up to two years, receiving culturally sensitive business support and growing a peer network. We assisted entrepreneurs with permits, subsidized kitchen and retail rent, connections to market channels, and coaching on food industry standards.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, our program expanded in 2020 to support 13 businesses, and we launched Spice Bridge, providing Food Business Incubator participants with an affordable space to prepare and sell food.
The 2,800-square-foot facility included a commercial kitchen with four cook stations, four retail food stalls, and a dining area. Food vendors rotated through the food hall stalls, offering culinary experiences that reflected the diversity of our community. Additional businesses used our kitchen for off-site sales, such as pop-ups and packaged products.
In addition to helping to create economic security for business owners and their families, Spice Bridge helped build food security in our community. The space supported Tukwila Village Farmers Market, making fresh, local produce affordable and accessible for community members. Spice Bridge was also a hub for FIN’s community meals program, which provided more than 8,700 no-cost meals for seniors and families in need.
Spice Bridge was located in Tukwila Village, a new mixed development with 400 new affordable and market-rate apartments managed by Sustainable Housing for Ageless Generations (SHAG), a nonprofit organization.
A program of Global to Local, the Food Innovation Network (FIN) enhanced the local food system, increased access to healthy foods, and supported local food businesses in the diverse communities of SeaTac/Tukwila and South King County. Global to Local was a SeaTac-based non-profit whose programs addressed the social determinants of health to advance health equity in local communities.
In November 2024, Global to Local and Spice Bridge closed due to rising operating costs and a lack of sustainable funding.
