Civic Enterprise Development (CED), has successfully developed the third multi-tenant food preparation facility in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago, Amped Kitchens Chicago. Their first two facilities in Los Angeles are a pioneering national model for food producers working in a shared location, which can take advantage of similar delivery, loading, and space needs. Amped Kitchens Chicago rents permit-ready, private commercial kitchen spaces within a community of dynamic food makers. Each lease includes on-site amenities including dry, cold, and frozen storage for ingredients and finished goods, as well as office space, meeting rooms, attended shipping docks, packing rooms, and an on-site US Department of Agriculture office. In addition, Amped Kitchens’ tenants have access to expedited government approvals and easier certification for specialty food markets, such as gluten-free, organic, and kosher. The kitchens come in various sizes, with three-compartment sinks, hand sinks, food sinks, commercial hoods, and specialized temperature controls per unit. All Amped Kitchens spaces are inspected by health officials, and tenants may bring in their own specialized equipment and production staff.

New Markets Tax Credit financed the rehabilitation of 117,000 SF of space for Amped Kitchens Chicago, providing more than 60 pre-inspected, ready-to-occupy wholesale kitchen spaces for start-ups, minority- and women-owned businesses in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago. The facility was developed on a near vacant property, transforming the area into a hub for small food-manufacturers.

Amped Kitchens offers local food businesses the opportunity to scale production faster with lower capital requirements. These cost and time savings will allow tenants transitioning out of the start-up phase to sustainably expand their food production businesses with room to meet growing demand for their products. Amped Kitchens Chicago is on course to be 70 percent occupied as of September 2022 and is currently employing approximately 200 workers, many of whom are residents of the nearby communities.