WARREN, R.I. -- U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed are scheduled to attend the groundbreaking for the state's first "culinary business incubator" at 11 a.m. Friday morning.
The ceremony marks the $3.2-million renovation of the former elementary school at 691 Main St. into the Hope & Main Culinary Business Incubator. The project will transform the 1915 building into a facility equipped with code-compliant commercial kitchens, food storage areas and other resources designed to jump-start early-stage food businesses.
The bulk of the financing comes from a $3-million rural development community facilities loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Lisa Raiola, president and founder of the nonprofit Hope & Main LLC, said the building should be operational in the spring of 2014.