Looking Back on the Early Years of Kitchen Council
Starting a food business is not for the faint of heart. From securing affordable commercial kitchen space to navigating complex licensing and regulations, the barriers are real and often overwhelming.
Years ago, we saw that while many aspiring food entrepreneurs had talent in the kitchen, they often felt unprepared for the business side of things. Without support, the process became daunting, and unfortunately, many great ideas never got off the ground. First-year failure rates hovered between 65 and 70 percent, and existing resources were often fragmented or difficult to access. That is the gap Kitchen Council set out to fill.
Around 2015, there was incredible energy for food systems in our region. Corporate food giants were rooted here. Local restaurants were earning national recognition. Farmers markets were thriving, and the farm-to-table movement was gaining momentum. Recognizing the potential, the Greater Omaha Chamber and the Iowa West Foundation teamed up to support the region’s food entrepreneurs.
They were soon joined by partners including the Council Bluffs Chamber, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Conagra Brands. Together, they studied the market, assessed the need, and began designing a concept that could help move the needle.
Kitchen Council, then a new program of the Greater Omaha Chamber, began to take shape in 2017. In 2018, we launched our pilot space inside a former Famous Dave’s restaurant. (Yes, really.) That temporary location served as our test kitchen and home base until we could transition into our permanent facility.
In early 2020, we moved into our current home inside the Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The historic, 95,000-square-foot building is shared with incredible partners including PACE, American Midwest Ballet, Chanticleer Theater, and the Council Bluffs Symphony Orchestra. It offered a vibrant and inspiring setting to grow.
Our commercial kitchen spans 3,000 square feet and features commercial-grade equipment, production space and flexible storage. But more than the physical space, it became a launchpad for bold ideas and meaningful connections.
From day one, Kitchen Council’s goal has been simple: help food startups start up. We have aimed to make the path to entrepreneurship more accessible by offering not just kitchen access, but also mentorship, community, and opportunities to test and showcase products through events, classes and pop-ups.
In late 2022, Kitchen Council officially transitioned to Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation (ASWIC), the economic development organization for Council Bluffs and all of Pottawattamie County. Under ASWIC’s leadership, Kitchen Council continues to support both Iowa and Nebraska-based food businesses, with a renewed focus on regional collaboration and long-term sustainability.
Over the years, we have built a vibrant and resilient community. More than 50 resident members have called Kitchen Council home, representing a diverse range of cuisines, cultures, and concepts. Many have successfully graduated and gone on to open storefronts, expand to farmers markets, grow wholesale operations, or launch food trucks that are now beloved across the region. In addition to our resident members, we have supported and mentored more than 600 prospective and current food entrepreneurs through workshops, one-on-one guidance and office hours. These efforts have helped turn ideas into action at every stage of the journey.
We have hosted hundreds of events, from public pop-ups to workshops to private trainings. These moments created connections, opened doors, and helped founders tell their stories. Along the way, we forged dozens of partnerships across the food system, working with academic institutions, investors, distributors, health inspectors, technical advisors and fellow shared kitchens to give members the tools they need to grow.
Every milestone has been driven by collaboration, curiosity, and a shared belief in the power of food to build community.
As I prepare to step away from my role as Managing Director, I wanted to leave behind a small window into those early days - some memories, milestones and photos from the very beginning. I hope this look back offers a sense of how far we have come and how much heart and hustle built the foundation we stand on today.
With deep gratitude,
Holly Benson Muller