Aspiring chef opens food truck in Beckley through Mercer County program

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The first participant in the Food Truck Incubator Program in Mercer County served up delicious Caribbean inspired food in Beckley on Thursday, April 11, 2024.

Jermaine Jackson is the first person to complete and start up his own food truck in the City of Bluefield’s Food Truck Incubator Program.

Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority collaborated with local partners to bring the program and two food trucks to the area. The goal of the program is to place and help aspiring chefs and cooks in the region complete courses that eventually allow them to jump-start their careers in the food industry. Once they pass the courses, they have the chance to test out their menus in a food truck for 60 days or during 10 events.

“The Commerce Office, they do a course that you go through, and once you’re finished up, each participant get a period of time they get to use the truck. It’s 60 days, you can go through and use it per event, so on and so forth. Then once you get done with it, they’ll go through the process, if you still have interest in starting your business, they’ll work with you to get a truck of your own and whatnot.”

Jermaine Jackson, Food Truck Incubator Program participant

Jackson said he is booked and busy for the upcoming months.

Some requirements for the program included obtaining a Food Handler’s certificate, providing a valid driver’s license, completing a driving course, and taking a drug screening of the authority’s choosing.

Leaders of the program said they believe it will bring an added boost to the local economy.

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