February 2023
A new cohort of Impact Culinary Training has started! Albert, Callum, McKinley, Artez, Morgan, Jakura, Deshaun, Ruben, Yara, Kiara, and Desiree will spend the next 8 weeks learning kitchen and job readiness skills at The Hatchery before a 4-week paid internship at a Chicagoland restaurant. The application is now open year-round and applicants will be contacted when recruitment for the next cohort begins.
Join us for this month's Everything Ecommerce Series! Experts will highlight the ins-and-outs of launching a successful website, payment systems, marketing campaigns, product photography, and more. We encourage you to attend all events, but it is not required to participate.

Get your tickets below to join us in-person for each part that will take place at The Hatchery (135 N. Kedzie Ave.).
Make City Mentions + The Hatchery Chicago® Headlines
News Feature
Casa Humilde Cerveceria
News Feature
Twisted Eggroll
Casa Humilde Cerveceria, started by two Mexican-American brothers, infuses their beers with the rich flavors of Mexico and Latin America. Watch a feature about them on ABC 7 Chicago.
After growing Twisted Eggroll at The Hatchery, in a private commercial kitchen won through a pitch contest hosted by Midwest Dairy, Nikkita Randle has plans to move to the 75th Street corridor. Read more in Block Club Chicago.
News Feature
BāKIT Box
News Feature
Rhine Hall
BāKIT Box’s specialty baking kits that highlight different cultures was recently included in the gift bags given out at the Golden Globes. Watch founder Shelley Gupta share more on Fox 32 Chicago.
Rhine Hall was mentioned by Wine Enthusiast as part of The New Wave of Weird, Wild American Brandy for their use of traditional European flavors used in their brandy, alongside more “exotic” flavors from Mexico and Latin America. Read more.
Connect with Us at Upcoming Classes + Events
March 28th: Starting A Food Business +

* = In-person at The Hatchery (135 N. Kedzie Ave.)
+ = Hybrid Event (In-person at The Hatchery and Online)
All unmarked events will take place virtually.
How ICNC's Workforce Team Can Support Your Business
The Workforce Development team at ICNC works to provide support, quality, and services that connect a skilled and qualified jobseeker with employment, as well as a variety of labor market services to meet the needs of local businesses.
Free ServSafe Training
Free ServSafe Food Handler (a value of $15) and ServSafe Manager (a $240 value) training is now available. This program is open to all Illinois residents, but priority will go to West and South Side of Chicago residents. Please contact Alicia for more information.
HR Spotlight: Maison Cuisine
Danielle Wheeler, founder of Maison Cuisine, needed to create a proper employee handbook and checklist for new hires. When she and her team found the task to be daunting, they reached out to the Workforce Development Department after hearing Alicia talk about the support that the team at ICNC could provide. Nancy was able to provide a handbook template, additional links and helpful resources, and continuous support, which led to Maison Cuisine successfully creating an employee handbook for the company. Danielle has already sent the handbook to all current staff and used the developed checklist on a new hire. After working with the Workforce team, Danielle says she will “absolutely” reach out the next time she needs support and that she’s happy to have this project completed after wanting to create a handbook for years. 
Grow Your Business @ Make City + The Hatchery
Make City - 320 N. Damen
The Hatchery Chicago - 135 N. Kedzie
ICNC's Make City incubator offers a thriving entrepreneurial community and immediate access to ICNC's advising, export, and advocacy services alongside 100 other small, modern urban manufacturing businesses. ICNC supports small businesses and the West Side community through incubation, advocacy, and advising.
The Hatchery Chicago is a non-profit food and beverage incubator dedicated to helping local entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses through cutting-edge kitchen facilities, entrepreneurship curriculum, partnerships with generous corporate sponsors and foundations to create local job opportunities and accelerate local economic growth.
Check out our partners:
Learn more about the Illinois SBDC at ICNC here. The Illinois Small Business Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC). Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Please contact the center at (312)433-2373.