Caldwell has a brand-new recipe for opportunity. The Border Queen Commercial Kitchen inside the Sumner County Economic Development’s Caldwell Workspace officially opened last Thursday during the town’s Homecoming Stroll the Street event — and the community couldn’t be more enthusiastic.
“We had a great turnout and everyone was very complimentary,” said Dr. Jen Kern, Executive Director of Border Queen Harvest Hub. “Lots of people shared ideas on how they could start using the kitchen.”
The kitchen’s launch marks the culmination of months of planning, partnerships, and perseverance. Construction began last January after Sumner County Economic Development received a grant from K-State 105, awarded as part of the Border Queen Harvest Hub (BQHH) initiative.
The project quickly grew into a community-wide effort, with support from Network Kansas, Kansas Farm Bureau, Vision Caldwell, Caldwell Chamber of Commerce, Sumner County Research and Extension, KanOkla, and Shop Kansas Farms.
“When everyone comes together, the success of a project like this has far-reaching benefits and promotes county-wide growth,” said Sumner County Economic Development Executive Director Stacy Davis.
Volunteers and local professionals worked side by side to remodel the space, transforming it into an organized, highly-functional kitchen designed for growth. Entrepreneurs, caterers, bakers, mobile food vendors and those looking to market packaged goods now have a dedicated facility to turn locally grown foods into shelf-stable, market-ready products — a boost for both small businesses and the local food economy.
But the possibilities don’t stop there. The kitchen will also serve as a hub for learning, with the K-State Extension Office offering workshops on canning, food safety, and home cooking skills. “The commercial kitchen will be used as a training facility for those who want to do their own canning or cooking at home,” said Kern.
The kitchen offers flexible memberships designed to fit a variety of needs. Standard memberships are just $100 a month (with discounts for annual plans) and include dedicated storage space, both dry and cold, plus access to the kitchen four days each month. For those ready to take their food business to the next level, the VIP membership is $250 a month (with an annual discount) and unlocks unlimited 24/7 kitchen access, plus valuable training and marketing support.
From budding food businesses to home cooks eager to sharpen their skills, with the support of Sumner County Economic Development the Border Queen Commercial Kitchen is opening doors — and opening new chapters for innovation, entrepreneurship, and community pride.
For more information, email Lori Barnes at lbarnes@co.sumner.ks.us or call 620-845-6779.
