The Chick-n-Que food truck is seen here at a VGCC food truck rodeo at the college’s Franklin County Campus. (VGCC photo)
Vance-Granville Community College will soon offer its Mobile Food Truck Entrepreneurship Workshop Series in Warren County for the first time. This series of courses for entrepreneurs who want to compete in the growing food truck industry is unique in the North Carolina Community College System.
A partnership of VGCC’s Small Business Center and Personal Enrichment department, the program will be held in March at the college’s Warren County Campus in Warrenton. Previously, it was offered only at the college’s Franklin County Campus.
Queen Harris, owner/operator of the Chick-n-Que mobile food truck and restaurant in Rolesville, will again serve as the instructor. Harris and her husband have been operating a food truck for more than six years and recently also opened a restaurant. They can also be found each year at the State Fair, serving up North Carolina-raised ostrich burgers among other treats. Harris will help guide participants through the steps of planning, starting and maintaining a food truck or food cart business.
The first class in the series, “The Art of Food Truck,” will be held on Monday, March 7, from 6 until 9 p.m. This workshop serves as an introduction to the program and covers the fundamentals of owning and operating a mobile food unit.
“Preparing for Success: Concept and Design” will follow on Monday, March 14, from 6 until 8 p.m. The design of the food unit as well as budgeting and costs are covered in this session.
“Administrative Necessities” is scheduled for Monday, March 21, from 6 until 8 p.m. Participants will learn about federal, state and local regulations, zoning, licenses and permits they will need.
“Marketing for Success: Social Media/Advertising” will conclude the series on Monday, March 28, from 6 until 8 p.m. This session will include a panel discussion with several food truck owners.
After the course is complete, there will be a “Food Truck Rodeo” at the Warren Campus, to which the public will be invited. The date and time are yet to be announced.
The cost of the program is $55 for the first class. The other three sessions are offered free of charge.
Participants in the program will also be required to sign up as clients of the VGCC Small Business Center, which is free of charge, and to complete the ServSafe food safety certification course. A separate fee of $74 is charged for ServSafe.
For more information and to register, contact VGCC Small Business Center director Tanya Weary at (252) 738-3240 or smallbusiness@vgcc.edu or Gail Clark at (252) 738-3385 or ped@vgcc.edu.