Kitchen 17, a vegan food producer and restaurant, plans to relocate operations from Illinois to Huntington, Indiana. The project is expected to create up to 64 new jobs by the end of 2024.

The company will invest more than $1 million to purchase and renovate the historical Herald Press building located at 7 North Jefferson Street. The 25,000-square-foot pizza production facility will house the company’s headquarters as well as food production, packaging and distribution operations including a prep kitchen, small retail tasting room, urban rooftop farming solutions and restaurant event space.

“We grew up in Huntington, our families have been here for generations," said Jennie Plasterer, founder of Kitchen 17. "This is home. We went to big cities for different opportunities and had a great time doing so. When the pandemic hit, not only did we find an opportunity to restructure our lives and our businesses, but at the same time, expansion became necessary, and we couldn’t think of a better place than Huntington. I’ve gotten to fully partner with my sister and my husband, in my hometown, while putting in the first plant-based restaurant here. It’s a very special moment for us.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Kitchen 17 up to $565,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. The city of Huntington approved additional incentives. Northeast Indiana Works supports the project.

"Kitchen 17's decision to locate in Indiana is a testament to our state's entrepreneur-friendly and pro-growth environment," said Interim Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Staton. "We're inspired by their creative, strategic and innovative approach to continuing to thrive through the pandemic and excited to see them grow in the Hoosier state."