Hope & Main is building a more resilient food economy in RI. Here’s how it’s done

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• Hope & Main, a Rhode Island culinary incubator, helps launch food businesses and supports the local food economy.
• Hope & Main faces challenges meeting increased demand and helping businesses navigate rising costs and market access.
• They seek volunteers, mentors and donations to support their programs and expansion plans, including a new West End Kitchens facility.

The Providence Journal and United Way of Rhode Island have partnered to highlight the state’s nonprofits. Each week, a nonprofit identified by United Way will be spotlighted in the Providence Sunday Journal, and the United Way will share how it supports that organization.

This week, we feature Hope & Main, “Rhode Island’s premier culinary incubator and among the top 10 in the country.”

We asked its president and founder, Lisa Raiola, to tell us more about the organization.

What is your mission and vision?

Hope & Main’s mission is to empower an inclusive community of entrepreneurs to jump-start and cultivate thriving food businesses that are the foundation of a more just, sustainable and resilient local food economy. We envision a future where access to economic mobility through food entrepreneurship strengthens community resilience, fosters local ownership and creates a durable, community-centered food system that benefits everyone.

How do you measure success?

In just over a decade, we’ve launched more than 500 food businesses – 45% are still in operation today. One in four of Rhode Island’s consumer packaged goods companies starts at Hope & Main. Each year, we help create around 50 new food businesses, generating over 350 jobs and nearly $3 million in revenue. More than half of our entrepreneurs come from low- and moderate-income communities, with 60% women-owned businesses and 45% founders of color. Success really comes down to building a diverse and equitable food economy for Rhode Island.

What are your biggest challenges currently?

Similar to the impact of COVID-19, the current economic climate is leading to job displacement in the food industry. Many of these folks seek us out to create new income opportunities for themselves and their families. In fact, applications to Hope & Main have more than doubled, and our biggest challenge at the moment is scaling up to meet this demand. This is why we are developing Hope & Main West End Kitchens in Providence. This new shared-use facility will double our capacity and inspire a new wave of food innovation in Rhode Island. Rising costs and securing ongoing funding are also hurdles for fledgling food businesses. The leap into wholesale channels is often how our members scale, but access to these markets is very difficult for new entrants. We’re working hard to connect local food producers with wholesale buyers through initiatives like the Rhode Island Tabletop Show. This is the state’s only food trade show, and we have hosted it for nearly a decade. It has grown with the help of partners like Farm Fresh Rhode Island and Rhode Island Commerce. These efforts help small businesses grow and thrive in a competitive market.

How can volunteers or donors get involved?

You can volunteer as a mentor, help at events or support workshops. Also, donations help us expand facilities, provide scholarships and develop new programs. We’re especially excited about West End Kitchens opening this fall – a new shared-use kitchen that will support more entrepreneurs. We will need help to support the inaugural class of 50 new businesses striving to make it to the starting line.  

What are some recent accomplishments or projects you’re proud of?

We’re proud to be recognized as one of the top five food incubators in the country. More than just rental kitchens, Hope & Main offers innovative programming tailored to the unique needs of Rhode Island food businesses seeking to launch, pivot and/or scale. For example, our Spanish-language food business boot camp has opened doors for an entirely new community of food-preneurs.

Additionally, we’ve seen significant growth in our small-batch co-packing operation, which serves as a springboard for second-stage food processing and the development of a new manufacturing sector in Rhode Island. We’re also building strong partnerships across the local food system, working hand-in-hand with colleagues to create more comprehensive support networks for producers and processors. These efforts are helping to strengthen our food economy from the ground up, creating new opportunities and sustainable growth for our community.

For more information about Hope & Main, email [email protected], call 401-245-7400 or visit hopeandmain.org.