St. Patrick Center Announces 8 New Businesses In Its BEGIN New Venture Center
 St. Patrick Center announced that at eight new small businesses are incubating in its BEGIN New Venture Center creating new opportunities for St. Patrick Center clients and the St. Louis economy. The BEGIN New Venture Center, opened in 2008, is the nation's first small business incubator with mission sensitivity to the homeless population, meaning that in exchange for business resources, BEGIN companies agree to train and/or hire St. Patrick Center clients.
"We have seen significant growth in some of our companies," said BEGIN New Venture Center director Jan DeYoung. "We also continue to gain interest from new, innovative entrepreneurs whose business plans correspond with our overall mission to build permanent, positive change in the lives of St. Patrick Center clients."
The eight new companies feature a variety of products and services:
Feed Me: A St. Louis food truck featuring New York City style Vietnamese sandwiches (Banh Mi) and summer rolls. Why not enjoy a taste of NYC in STL.
Feed Your Vitality: Committed to serving only vibrant, whole foods made with the freshest ingredients. Meals naturally free of additives and preservatives found in most commercially prepared foods. Most meals also free of ingredients containing common inflammatory allergens including gluten, corn, dairy, artificial ingredients and preservatives. Specializing in doctor-recommended diets plus two weight loss plans.
Freddie Lee's American Gourmet Sauce: Two special blends – mild and spicy. The all-purpose gourmet sauce is not just for bar-b-que, but for a variety of entrees, dips and salsas.
KIS Solutions STL: A simple approach to food safety from farm to table: Certified Professional Food Safety training offered as a one-day course on the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month or as a 2-week course with classes on Tuesday & Thursday evenings.
Lulu's Local Eatery: A unique food truck that serves an eclectic mix of fresh, veggie-inspired recipes using organic, natural and local ingredients wherever possible. A fresh, convenient lunch option at an affordable price, making healthy eating fun and accessible.
Metro STL Community Tax Coalition: A tax-exempt charitable organization, uplifting the community through FREE tax preparation and electronic filing services in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Returns are prepared by trained IRS-certified volunteers.
St. Louis Teachers' Recycle Center: A non-profit organization providing community-based Reusable Resource Centers and delivery services. Teachers, parents and children have access to high quality/low cost reusable resources and workshops for "outside the box" creative experiences.
Sweet Katie Bee's Organic Cupcake & Coffee Bar: Using the best sustainably farmed ingredients to create the freshest, most delicious cupcake available anywhere. Also serving Goshen Organic Coffee in a full coffee bar — coming soon to 212 E. State Street in O'Fallon, Illinois.
A total of 26 companies are now growing in the BEGIN New Venture Center. They include the following:
Accurate Security Agency, Adventures In Spice, AdzZoo (WG Marketing), Craig & Toni Quality Products, del Carmen, Farm Fresh Cupcakes, Kreative Concepts, Lifetime Learners Tutoring Service, Pairings Catering Company, Papa Tom's Fancy Franks, Pie Oh My, Princess Delights, Queen's Cuisine, Shell's Coastal Cuisine, Small Bites, South St. Louis Pizza Company, The Sausage Syndicate, and WorkNet, Inc.
In addition to the benefits of a professional business location and access to a willing and able workforce of St. Patrick Center clients, companies in the BEGIN New Venture Center receive ongoing business assistance, mentorship, individualized assessment, networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs and links to professional service providers.
The BEGIN New Venture Center is currently accepting applications for entrance into the small business incubator for motivated start-up businesses that would like to locate their company in the incubator and/or the Culinary Suite. For more information, please visit our website at BeginStL.org and follow the three easy steps that are listed there; then we will call you to set up an initial interview.
St. Patrick Center provides opportunities for self-sufficiency and dignity to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Individuals and families build permanent, positive change in their lives through safe and affordable housing, sound mental and physical health, and employment and financial stability.
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