The Bluefield WV Economic Development Authority has received $400,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission for its food truck incubator program.
“The goal is to start 12 new businesses in the region each year,” Jim Spencer, Executive Director of BEDA, said. “The average revenue of a food truck in the U.S. is between $250,000 and $500,000 a year. The national market size of the food truck industry was $1.2 billion last year with an expected growth of 3.4 percent this year.
The program will provide entrepreneurs who complete the food truck training course with a truck to use for a trial period to test a menu and hone their skills.
Each participant will get help obtaining their food handler’s certfication and be trained in truck operations, get help with marketing, and plan their business.
Everyone participating in the program will get to use one of two trucks for up to 60 days or ten events.
