Humble Beginnings
CLiCK began in 2009 after local residents and members of the Willimantic Food Co-op discussed the idea of a shared processing kitchen and ways to better serve farmers in the Windham Area. CLiCK's funding began with a pilot grant from the Access Community Action Agency as part of their poverty reduction program. As a result, CLiCK expanded its vision to include addressing issues of poverty through educational programming centered around food. After many years of experience to learn from, CLiCK’s mission has expanded over time. Now, it includes serving the needs of entrepreneur chefs and bakers, who can use CLiCK’s commercially licensed kitchen space to create products, while minimizing the burden of the overhead costs of managing a kitchen space. This crucial program has enriched the local economy by providing many local families the ability to sell their products legally and grow their businesses.
TIMELINE:
- 2008: Food Coop Idea for Commercial Kitchen
- 2009: Initial IDEA meeting; applied for Access Poverty Reduction Grant
- 2011: Certificate of Incorporation
- 2012: Non-profit status granted
- 2014: Purchased building at 41 Club Rd
- 2015: Commercial kitchens ready for business; Grand Opening; first member businesses join; orchard planted; work on teaching kitchen begins.
- 2016: Teaching Kitchen completed; classes start; community garden beds planted.
- 2017: Expansion of business amenities like storage and equipment; development of summer programs.
- 2018: 37 member businesses are Involved with CLiCK; Teaching Kitchen updated, Education Coordinator hired; family-friendly bathroom constructed.
- 2021: CLiCK survived the Pandemic while supporting local food resilience in times of shortages.
- 2023: CLiCK received its biggest grant ever through Senator Murphy’s Office for building renovations; CLiCK starts the LFPP Program, securing its position as a key distributor and support nexus for local farms.
