About Us

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The Kickapoo Culinary Center is located in Gays Mills, WI.

Day to day operation of the Center is overseen by Jill Riggs and Darlene Waldsmith.

The Culinary Center was conceived as a development tool to help 

facilitate economic growth in the beautiful Driftless Area of 

Crawford County and Gays Mills, WI.

 Its history is a key factor in the Village’s efforts to include 

a new community building among the 

State and Federal funding to recover from devastating floods

 of the Kickapoo River in 2007 and 2008. 

Those intentions, guided by a Long Range Planning Committee,

 many of whose members continue to be active in 

Gays Mills economic growth and prosperity 

focusing on moving Driftless Area residents and businesses out of the river’s flood plain, 

and giving them the opportunity to find new jobs and build new businesses.

The Culinary Center is operated as a food business incubator, providing clients 

with affordable access to a world class kitchen

 in addition to coaching and counseling on business formation and development. 

The kitchen also plays an important role in life events 

conducted at the Village Hall.

The Community Commerce Building is comprised of the 2,400-square foot kitchen,

 a 3,000 square foot Village Hall,

 the Gays Mills Public Library,

 Gays Mills Village offices,

and the future of Gays Mills growth here.