MILWAUKEE — A new, state-of-the-art, commercial kitchen is giving 100 food entrepreneurs in Milwaukee the space to make their dreams become reality.

Spectrum News 1 highlighted some of the caterers inside who say their small businesses are now official.

Bonita Goodman-Johnson doesn’t just mix her cupcakes from scratch, but she makes them with special ingredients and lots of love.

“My number one seller is my caramel cake,” said Bonita. “So people say this is the tastiest just like my grandmothers [from] down south. To me that’s an honor.”

Bonita has spent years baking goods for her catering business straight from her own kitchen, but not anymore. Thanks to Upstart Kitchen, Bonita is now able to produce more desserts in less than half the time.

“They are cooking evenly and all at once so where at home I might make 24 cupcakes, I can make almost 80 cupcakes here,” she said. 

Upstart Kitchen opened its doors in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood Tuesday. An initiative of PRISM Economic Development Corporation founded by Former Church Pastor, Bishop Harvey. Upstart’s mission is to get 100 caterers and food entrepreneurs the space, cooking tools, information and mentorship to succeed. 

It’s the first of its kind in the city.

“It’s giving people that power to change their own economic status to be able to make money and make wealth at some point,” said Emerald Mills, founder of Diverse Dining.

Emerald said that power will in-turn change the way communities on this side of Milwaukee operate for the better.

Upstart Kitchen was made possible by a $50,000 grant awarded to PRISM by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.