Building a Local Food Economy, One Meal at a Time

At Blueprint Commercial, we believe that strong communities grow from thoughtful investment, in spaces, people, and purpose. Few initiatives capture that connection more powerfully than Philly Cooks for Philly, a nonprofit reimagining how Philadelphia can feed its students while strengthening its local food economy and workforce.

A Big Idea Rooted in Local Impact

Philly Cooks for Philly was founded by Bob Reusche and Molly Riordan with a simple but transformative goal: to keep Philadelphia’s taxpayer dollars working inside the city.

Each year, millions of federally funded meals served in schools, after-school, and summer programs,  are prepared out of state. That means lost jobs, lost revenue, and missed opportunities for Philadelphia residents and small businesses.

“Our goal is to relocate the production of federally reimbursed meals from New York State to Philadelphia,” says Reusche. “Those dollars are leaving the city and so are the jobs and local economic impact. We want to change that.”

The proposed neighborhood-based central kitchen would prepare millions of meals each year, directly employ over 200 Philadelphians, and support an additional 225 local jobs in transportation, logistics, and agriculture.

It’s a project designed to feed people and the economy.

Creating Career Pathways Through Food

At the heart of Philly Cooks for Philly’s mission is opportunity. Alongside the kitchen, the organization plans to establish a Career Empowerment Center, connecting employees to long-term advancement in food service, sales, logistics, and marketing.

“These are good jobs,” Reusche explains. “And you don’t need a four-year degree to build a successful career in this industry. We want people to see that path and have access to it.”

This focus on workforce development and equitable access aligns with Blueprint Commercial’s belief that real estate investment and social impact can go hand in hand.

Neighborhood Pride and Stability

Philly Cooks for Philly’s model isn’t just about where food is produced—it’s about who the production benefits. The planned facility is meant to be a community anchor, complete with a café, a space for a community-run farmers market , and gathering place for neighborhood events.

“We want neighbors to see this as their place,” says Reusche. “Imagine the pride of a parent preparing the same meals their child will eat at school. That’s the kind of connection that strengthens communities.”

By creating local jobs and stable incomes, the initiative supports neighborhood revitalization, helping residents reinvest in their homes, families, and futures.

Collaboration in Action

Making a project of this scale happen takes partnership across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Philly Cooks for Philly has built a strong network of collaborators, including:

• The Economy League of Greater Philadelphia

• Philadelphia Works

• Support from the William Penn Foundation

• Attorney Darwin Beauvais, real estate  and zoning advisor from Obermayer, Rebmann

• Melanie Cataldi, Hygieia Consulting, who oversaw the development of Philabundance  Community Kitchen

• Karyn Polak and Richard Binswanger, strong advocates for nonprofit impact investment

• Blueprint Commercial, serving as real estate advisor and development liaison

Blueprint Commercial is proud to assist the organization in identifying potential sites, coordinating with developers, and helping bring this vision from concept to construction.

“Gerry Smith and Maddie Whitehead have been incredibly attentive and responsive,” says Reusche. “They listen, they act, and they care. We’re very fortunate to have Blueprint on board.”

Next Steps and Momentum

After a productive series of meetings in Washington, D.C., the team is focused on site selection, developer partnerships, and securing a letter of intent from the School District of Philadelphia, a milestone that will unlock the funding necessary to move the project forward.

“Everybody agrees it’s a great idea,” says Reusche. “Now it’s about bringing everyone together to take it from a great idea to decisive action.”

Why Philadelphia—and Why Now

For Reusche, the city’s need and character make it the perfect fit.

“Because the city doesn’t have a program at this scale and it needs one,” he says. “People in Philadelphia really care about what’s going on. They’re invested, collaborative, and driven to make things better. That’s what makes this possible.”

As Philly Cooks for Philly continues to build partnerships and gather support, it stands as a model for how mission-driven development can combine economic growth, food equity, and community pride.

Learn More

To learn more or get involved, visit phillycooksforphilly.org.

About Philly Cooks for Philly Philly Cooks for Philly is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit working to localize the production of federally-reimbursed , creating access to family-sustaining jobs and equitable career pathways while strengthening the city’s food economy and workforce.