Kitchen for hire

A new commercial kitchen will be officially opened next Friday at 5.30pm.

The kitchen is at the Small Business Centre, a facility which aims to assist new small businesses with start-up information, training, seminars and premises.

Small Business Centre manager Vicki Brown said she was thrilled the kitchen was complete.

“After a 12-month process the kitchen is now operational and we can’t wait to open it to the public next week,” she said.

Mrs Brown said the centre had been looking to get a commercial kitchen that could be leased out for a long time.

The kitchen is equipped with fridges and a freezer, a lockable storage area, a turbo fan-forced oven, two cooking ovens and 10 hot pots.

The kitchen was built using funding from the board and a grant from the Great Southern Development Commission.

Mrs Brown said the need for the kitchen was vital as there was nowhere else in Albany where people could rent out a kitchen for a short period.

“We can provide people now with a commercial kitchen used to help kickstart a business and it’s going to benefit a lot of people,” she said.

“The kitchen can be used by people who have a signature dish or jams and chutney and have no where else to cook out of.

“Our ethos is to always help a business or get a business up and running, but if there are gaps in the calendar, then those making charity meals can also rent out the kitchen.”

The requirement to cook in the kitchen is a food handler’s licence available online or at the City of Albany offices.

The rate for the kitchen is a minimum four hours for $66 and additional hours at $22 an hour.