A community certified kitchen for local residents who want to produce and sell value-added food products will be the topic of a public forum.

Northeast Oregon Economic Development District will host the meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, in the Wallowa Resources conference room at 114 NW First St., Enterprise. The goal will be to gather input and assess local interest in developing a shared-use commercial kitchen for the county.

The forum will include a tour of the Wallowa Valley Care Center kitchen, which is one facility being considered to convert to a community kitchen in the future.

The development district is taking the lead in assessing the feasibility of such a facility.

In addition to businesses that produce food products, a commercial facility could help catering and other food-related businesses.

Any individual or organization interested in a community kitchen in Wallowa County is welcome to get involved,” said agency development specialist Sara Miller.

The community forum is part of a needs assessment that also includes a survey of potential kitchen users. Potential kitchen users are encouraged to contact the district, which is funding the project with a small grant from USDA Rural Business Services. For info: contact Miller, at 541-426-3598 or (saramiller@neoedd.org).