For Immediate Release
Horseshoe Foundation Revolving Loan Fund Recipient MESA Prepares for Opening
NEW ALBANY, IND. (June 9, 2017) – MESA, A Collaborative Kitchen, located at 216 Pearl Street in New Albany, Ind., received a Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County (HFFC) Small Business Revolving Loan in February of this year. Since that time, owners Bobby and Ysha Bass have been working to make their dream of a collaborative space offering cooking classes and demonstrations, a bookstore, a to-go meal service and a boutique featuring kitchen essentials a reality. With plans to open this summer, MESA, A Collaborative Kitchen, will bring both established and aspiring chefs to Southern Indiana.
The start-up loan of $50,000 allowed the owners to begin renovating the space and purchase top-of-the-line equipment for the unique vision of joining four-course meals with a learning experience. Guest chefs will work with the MESA team to finalize their theme or menu, source the ingredients locally, choose beverage pairings and then offer guests a front-row seat while preparing the meal while explaining the process, answering questions and talking with guests. Guests will be able to purchase tickets online to each event.
“We are so grateful to the Horseshoe Revolving Loan Fund for helping us make MESA a reality in Floyd County. We are excited to be able to provide a new and exciting experience for all those who love to cook, eat and learn,” said owners Bobby and Ysha Bass. “We plan to open this summer, but we have already had requests for private parties which will begin in June, as well as a massive database of e-mails waiting to buy tickets once our first schedule is released. The community and the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County have been extremely supportive of MESA, A Collaborative Kitchen, and we would like to thank both, as well as Julie Rigrish at the Southeast ISBDC and One Southern Indiana for believing in this business’ potential.”
“While we have been able to provide gap funding for several restaurants in Floyd County, MESA really offered a unique combination of four-star dining and experiential learning,” said Jerry Finn, executive director of the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County. “With MESA’s success, the location will become a culinary hub for the region's highly talented chef population to share their love of food with the public and each other. We are proud we were able to offer this support and greatly anticipate their opening.”
MESA is available for chefs, restaurateurs, investors, and for menu development. It can also be reserved for a special event or private party where an expert staff can prepare, serve and clean up for guests in their state-of-the-art kitchen. Reservations are currently being taken for private parties including: chef tastings, birthday, anniversary and graduation parties, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, retirement parties and corporate gatherings.
Southeast Indiana Small Business Development Center Director Julie Rigrish commented, “The Southeast ISBDC is happy to have assisted Bobby and Ysha in launching this original concept classroom and restaurant. Both have entrepreneurial experience and have been successful in other ventures, including real estate. We expect great things from the couple and stand ready to help in any way we can.”
All applicants of the RLF are required to be in business in Floyd County and have a minimum of two years’ experience. A nine-member RLF Review Committee, consisting of directors from the HFFC, the local business community, and One Southern Indiana, evaluates loan applications and determines funding decisions. Maximum loan terms are ten years for land and building financing, five years for equipment loans and two years for working capital loans. The loans offer an interest rate of 2 percent below prime with a minimum rate of three percent.
The RLF is administered by One Southern Indiana. President and CEO Wendy Dant Chesser commented, “Congratulations to MESA, A Collaborative Kitchen, on the progress. The restaurant business is notoriously challenging, and I admire the creativity of joining a quality restaurant with an experiential learning experience. We look forward to their grand opening and stand ready to support them in this exciting endeavor, made possible by the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County.”
Businesses interested in learning more about the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County Small Business Revolving Loan Fund or wanting to obtain an application packet should visit 1si.org and click on the Business Resources tab or contact Elizabeth Baxter at elizabethb@1si.org.
About Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County:
The Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County (HFFC) is a private foundation, created to benefit the Floyd County, Indiana, community whose sole benefactor is Horseshoe Southern Indiana. The Foundation's philanthropic focus traditionally falls into the categories of grant making to charitable non-profit organizations, educational scholarships, and program related investments which encourage economic development.
Since its inception in 1999, the HFFC has provided $41 million to benefit Floyd County and $2 million through the small business revolving loan fund. For more information, visit: www.horseshoefoundation.org
About One Southern Indiana:
One Southern Indiana (1si) was formed in July of 2006 as the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development organization serving Clark and Floyd Counties. 1si’s mission is to provide the connections, resources and services that help businesses innovate and thrive in the southern Indiana/Louisville metro area.
Since its inception, the organization has evolved to include a three-prong approach to serve its members and investors. Business Resources, as the chamber side of the organization, encompasses membership, signature events and programs which support and encourage business growth; Economic Development works to grow the regional economy through the attraction of new commerce and assists with retention and expansion of existing businesses; Advocacy supports businesses at the government level by engaging in initiatives to preserve, protect and promote a business friendly environment free of obstacles to growth and development of commerce. http://www.1si.org
Media Contacts:
Jerry Finn
Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County
Direct: 812.945.4332
Email: jfinn@horseshoefoundation.org
Suzanne Ruark
One Southern Indiana
Direct: 812.206.9050
Email: suzanner@1si.org
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