Want to start a restaurant? Do you have a new food concept? Overwhelmed? Then you have come to the right place! We are here to help reduce the risk associated with the food industry. Local Innovators is a 7-week educational course that covers business plan development, menu pricing, New Mexico Health Department requirements, and branding; as well as hands-on experience in our food truck.
Lovington MainStreet’s economic transformation goal is to create a dining and entertainment district in downtown. To ensure our success, we have developed a restaurant accelerator pilot program to assist innovative entrepreneurs.
How Does It Work?
The program includes 5 weeks of classroom training and 2 weeks of hands-on training in “Big Blue” (i.e., mobile food truck use).
Restaurant mentors and presenters teach an intensive crash-course on how to open and run a restaurant. Candidates will meet twice a week for 2 hours during March, and training times are selected by the candidates. This program does not interfere with a regular full- time job.
Upon completion of in-classroom training, candidates are given the opportunity to test their concept in “Big Blue” (our mobile food truck) for 2 weeks. During the time they use the food truck, participants will be required to report a weekly Profit & Loss statement, and 3% of profits will be paid to Lovington MainStreet. Participants will keep 97% of the profits made during their time in food truck. Participants will also present to investors and bankers in a “Demo Day” at the end of the program.
Please note that there is a competitive application process and $50 application fee; we will only be selecting 5 candidates.
Tell Me More!
The Local Innovators Institute runs once a year, with applications opening January/February and closing in February/March. Applicants must pitch their concept to our selection committee. After the candidates present their concepts, we will select the 5 participants and begin in-classroom training. Upon completion of 13 hours in required instructional time, each candidate will spend 2 weeks running “Big Blue” in Downtown Lovington. The food truck will be stationary and must remain in the MainStreet District.
How Do I Apply?
Applications for the 2023 Cohort are closed as of March 3rd. Please check back in 2024.
There is a $50 application fee and a questionnaire. To complete the application, follow the link below. Once you have applied, we will contact you to schedule your pitch. Applicants will present one at a time, for a total time of approximately 25 minutes.
- Applicants will present their concept to a 7-9 person committee.
- Presentations can be in the form of a slide deck or a handout. Pitch cannot exceed 15 minutes.
- Committee will ask questions after pitch; estimated time 10 minutes.
- Committee will score applicants on a scale of 1-10 in four categories.
Check back in 2024!