NEVADA CITY

Sierra Commons, Nevada County’s nonprofit business incubator, is launching its Food Accelerator Part One on Oct. 6, an online course designed to help food entrepreneurs build, launch, and grow their businesses.

The Food Accelerator Part One combines the convenience of online learning with hands-on, local experiences. Participants will gain access to a new speaker series featuring industry experts, along with in-person opportunities such as a special session at BriarPatch Food Co-op, self-guided commercial kitchen tours in both eastern and western Nevada County, and a graduation showcase where students present their business ideas.

In keeping with Sierra Commons’ commitment to accessibility, the program offers scholarships and childcare stipends to make participation possible for entrepreneurs with financial or family obligations.

This program is part of Sierra Commons’ Cultivating Resilient Rural Food Ecosystems project, funded through the California Jobs First initiative and the We Prosper Together regional collaborative. The initiative focuses on building a stronger local food web by supporting value-added food businesses – creating jobs, and reducing barriers for new entrepreneurs.

Oct. 6 marks the beginning of the first course in a two-part series. Part Two starts Jan. 20, 2026 — diving deeper into finance, HR, scaling production, and tools to avoid burnout.

Registration is now open at sierracommons.org/food-accelerator.

~ Sierra Commons press release