Offering businesses access to an affordable food manufacturing facility is an integral component of the services offered by ACEnet. Located on the Athens campus, ACEnet's shared-use Food Manufacturing and Commercial Kitchen Facility hosts over 150 businesses each year. Driving directions and pictures of the facility can be found on our Athens Campus page.

In addition to kitchen facilities, ACEnet also offers trainings specifically designed to assist  with starting up or expanding specialty food businesses. Training resources and topic areas can be reached from our Training/Food Manufacturing page.

ACEnet strives to assist our entrepreneurs in producing the most appropriate product for the target audience. Staff will either directly provide guidance in a particular sector, or refer an entrepreneur to the most appropriate source.

On site product development relates primarily to our food sector and includes everything from batching up a home recipe for mass production, to selecting appropriate packaging materials, to sourcing commodities, to linking your business with food science experts.

We provide workshops and one-on-one technical assistance on regulatory issues surrounding food labeling and food science, pH and shelf-life testing, nutritional analysis and product labeling. Focus groups and consumer tastings can also be arranged for direct feedback on your product formulation and image.

ACEnet staff provides practical, hands-on training to firms developing market strategies. Staff members stay abreast of sector trends and market segments to help you investigate, analyze, and capture new market opportunities.

We help network food manufacturers to access local, regional, and national markets; brokers; and distribution channels. Our Resources page provides up-to-date market information and access market databases while our on-line training center provides customized assistance. An extensive resource library is also available on site at the Food Ventures Center.