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Officials will support incubator
The incubator would encourage farmers to add to their income by producing fresh, local produce.
MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners agreed to support development of a shared kitchen incubator at Munnell Run Farm.
James Mondok, director of the Mercer County Conservation District, told commissioners last week the kitchen incubator is a new concept modeled after the business incubator.
He said the farm’s laundry building is the subject of a feasibility study to see if it could be converted into a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture-inspected creamery or commercial kitchen facility.
The purpose would be to encourage farmers to supplement their income by producing fresh, local food products, which are increasingly in demand. Some possible products would be cheese, yogurt, butter, jams, jellies and sauces.
Kitchen incubators offer shared workspace, equipment and business advice for small catering companies, pushcart vendors, bakers and specialty food producers.
Mondok said the incubator would provide a U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected facility, which would be expensive for a small entrepreneur to develop. At the incubator, they would pay only for the kitchen time at about $10 to $40 per hour, plus storage fees. He said he expects it to be available to Mercer and the surrounding counties.
He said a steering committee has been organized and a feasibility study is planned for early 2009. The feasibility study will be funded with a $25,000 grant from the First Industries Fund, a $150 million state grant and loan program aimed at strengthening Pennsylvania’s agricultural and tourism industries.
Commissioners approved putting chief Clerk Tim Hofius in charge of county purchasing and maintenance in addition to his duties as chief clerk. He will be paid a total $33,648 annually for the combined job. Hofius also was appointed open-records officer under the new state open-records law. Jeff Greenburg, director of Registration and Elections, was appointed as the alternate officer in Hofius’ absence.
Commissioners also:
UReclassified 11 enforcement officers in the county’s Domestic Relations Department and raised the starting salary for the job from $21,165 to $23,589.
UCreated a new assistant director position in the county Veterans Affairs Office, although they said they cannot afford to fill it in 2009. The job will pay $23,589 at entry level and will bring the number of employees in the veterans office to three.
UApproved a contract with the Reschini Group to provide nonunion county employees with High Mark PPO Blue Medical and Prescription Drug Coverage for 2009 at a 7.7 percent increase over 2008. Employee contributions to the plan will be increased to help cover the increase.
UApproved agreements with these providers for Children and Youth Services: Allencrest Juvenile Detention Center, Beaver; Bethesda Children’s Home, Meadville; Cray Youth and Family Services, Inc., New Castle; Gannondale, Erie; Moms without Moms, the Laura Walker Project, Grove City; Phoenix Youth Services Inc., Adamsville; and Summit Academy, Herman, Pa. The providers will provide various services at varying rates.