Cocina 66 Welcomes Eight Entrepreneurs into the Spring 2022 Launch Program
Media Contacts:
Cheena Pazzo: 918.625.1937 // cheena@one80.us
Sarah Lorenzen: 918.261.9006 // sarah@lobecktaylor.org
Carly Fussell: 918.845.7623 // carly@lobecktaylor.org
Cocina 66 Welcomes Eight Entrepreneurs into the Spring 2022 Launch Program
Cocina 66, sister program of Tulsa’s food incubator, Kitchen 66, is kicking off a 10-week course in Spanish for entrepreneurs looking to launch their business concept.
Tulsa, OK – March 15, 2022 – Cocina 66, a program created in 2021 in collaboration with community leader Elian Hurtado, UMA Tulsa, and Kitchen 66, is kicking off the second cohort of its Spanish language food incubator program. This ten-week program will equip start-up entrepreneurs with marketing and communications support, sales training and access to commercial kitchen space to develop culinary skills in a commercial environment.
"We are proud to bring back Cocina 66,” said KateLynn Dunning, program Director of Kitchen 66. “These entrepreneurs bring so much vibrancy and flavor to our local food scene, and support our commitment to the growth of global cuisines in Tulsa."
The Cocina 66 Spring 2022 Launch Program participants are as follows:
Bakery Items | Mharyale State
Antipastos, Party Trays & Italian Sauces | Gabriela Macchia
Pasteles & Venezuelan Foods | Ruberto Parra
Mexican Antojitos | Ana Berta
Custom Cakes | Morelba Navarro
Deli Sandwhiches with tropical flavors | Trinidad Romero
Authentic Puebla Foods | Monica Sanchez
Organic Shaved Ice | Genoveva Aguilar
"I look forward to learning how to develop my small business. This is an opportunity that also allows me to represent my culture and make a lasting impact in my community, ” said cohort member, Mharyale State.
Launched as a pilot in October 2021, the second Cocina 66 cohort began a 10-week training program on Monday, March 14, 2022. Participants will learn skills ranging from marketing and public relations to securing business financing and permits. The translated curriculum comes from Kitchen 66, an incubator program that has been helping food entrepreneurs in Tulsa launch their concepts since 2016. Cocina 66 will culminate with a graduation ceremony where entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase their new concepts to family, friends and key leaders in the Tulsa community. To keep up with the progress of the class, follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram at @kitchen66tulsa.
ABOUT KITCHEN 66 AND COCINA 66: Kitchen 66, a program of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, is Tulsa’s kickstart kitchen, working to decrease barriers to success for food entrepreneurs. Kitchen 66 offers access to affordable commercial kitchen space, business training programs like the Launch Program, and sales and distribution opportunities. In 2021, community leader Elian Hurtado, UMA Tulsa, and Kitchen 66 collaborated on a new project called Cocina 66. This new program is a translated Spanish version of the K66 Launch Program, which has been helping food entrepreneurs in Tulsa launch their concepts since 2016. Participants of both programs learn skills ranging from marketing and public relations to securing business financing and permits. Additionally, participants have access to commercial kitchen space and pop-up spaces inside Mother Road Market.
ABOUT LTFF: Founded in 1997 by Bill Lobeck and Kathy Taylor, the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation (LTFF) has grown into a second generation investment in making Tulsa an innovative, collaborative and thriving city. Under the leadership of CEO Elizabeth Frame Ellison, LTFF aims to decrease the barriers associated with Tulsans achieving their goals. To fulfill this mission, LTFF acts as a grantmaker, innovator and convener. LTFF supports the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems in Tulsa through its owned-and-operated programs including Kitchen 66, Mother Road Market and Shops at Mother Road Market, as well as through grants to organizations. For more information about LTFF, visit www.lobecktaylor.com.
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