Community Kitchen Access and Management Coordination

The City of Pontiac is seeking a qualified partner to develop and manage a coordinated community kitchen access system. The project aims to address the current lack of accessible, licensed kitchen space by creating a centralized network that connects kitchen operators with users, streamlines access, and supports the growth of Pontiac's local food economy. The selected vendor will identify and assess available kitchen facilities, develop tools to match businesses with appropriate kitchen space, implement a user-friendly scheduling and booking system, and establish processes for compliance tracking and partnership management. Key aspects of the project include: • Increasing access to licensed commercial kitchen facilities throughout the City • Supporting the growth and sustainability of local food businesses and entrepreneurs • Maximizing utilization of existing commercial kitchen assets • Creating an efficient, transparent, and equitable kitchen reservation process • Fostering partnerships among public, private, nonprofit, educational, and faith-based organizations • Reducing barriers for underserved and emerging food businesses • Developing a sustainable operating model that can continue beyond the initial implementation period