Metropolis of Pittsburgh: 16 native food-based entrepreneurs chosen for the primary Catapult Culinary Enterprise Incubator program

02/07/2021

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 2, 2021) The City of Pittsburgh and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) announced that 15 local businesses have been selected to participate in the first Catapult Culinary program cohort by Catapult Greater Pittsburgh (formerly Circles Greater Pittsburgh ) to participate. . Catapult Culinary is a 12 month entrepreneurship program for minority food entrepreneurs.

The program caters to minority-owned entrepreneurs, food-based businesses, those looking to grow and learn, and / or those with an interest in starting a food business.

The entrepreneurs selected for the program are:

Of the 15 companies selected, 10 are women-owned, one Latino-owned, 14 black-owned, and two veteran-owned.

“Catapult’s expansion of a world-class food-based entrepreneurship program is an exciting next step in helping local minority entrepreneurs,” said Mayor William Peduto. “Removing barriers to minority businesses and expanding our food and beverage industries benefits everyone.”

Cohort participants receive business and technical training and support, including:

“This culinary addition to Catapult is a prime example of how creative partnerships can empower entrepreneurs by providing not just funding, but a whole range of tools, including the resources, training and technical support required to be more successful “URA That said Deputy Executive Director Diamonte Walker.

Catapult Culinary has also partnered with Giant Eagle, which will support entrepreneurs with expertise in the food industry and mentoring with in-store product placement and pop-up demonstration spaces.

“We have been designing the Catapult Culinary program for nearly two years,” said Tammy Thompson, executive director of Catapult Greater Pittsburgh. “Every time we post an application for our Catapult: Startup to Storefront program, we are inundated with applications from food companies. I quickly realized that we had to develop something special for this industry and a strong focus on the local Black food industry and now we have Catapult: Culinary. I am very proud of our team and the great partners who will help us implement a program that I believe will be life changing for many entrepreneurs. ”

This press release was produced by the City of Pittsburgh. The views expressed here are your own.