Rootstock.
Groundworks.

Planning Library · §10 + §11 Implementation

Four phases to open.

Phase A (corridor validation, 2026) → Phase B (launch readiness, McMinnville, 2027–2028) → Phase C (launch, late 2028 or early 2029) → Phase D (stabilization, 2029–2030). Two go/no-go decisions in between protect against over-investment.

  1. Phase A
    Concept validation
    Corridor validation, 2026
    In progress

    Validate the model against the people, properties, and operating conditions of the Banks–McMinnville corridor.

    • Document Foodshed apprenticeship learnings and apply to Groundworks model
    • Complete 10–15 conversations with corridor growers, food operators, educators, and community leaders
    • Complete a corridor survey on demand for a café, farm stand, and education space
    • Stress-test financial model against real McMinnville-area numbers (rents, permits, foot traffic)
    • Complete legal research on 501(c)(3) formation
    • Execute at least one corridor pop-up supper club or cooking event as proof of concept
    • Complete a McMinnville site visit with grower and community meetings
    • Recruit 1–2 founding advisory board members
    • Secure domain and launch Groundworks landing page
    • Get Food Handler Card and ServSafe Manager Certification
    • Prepare simple materials for corridor listening meetings
  2. Phase B
    Launch readiness
    McMinnville, 2027 – 2028
    Upcoming

    Activities conducted after relocating to the McMinnville area.

    • Establish 3–5 committed farm supply relationships (visit farms across the Banks–McMinnville corridor)
    • Identify viable commercial space in McMinnville (walk corridors, get real rent quotes, verify zoning)
    • Recruit a 3–5 member founding board with corridor relationships
    • Build community relationships through farmers' markets, events, volunteering, networking
    • Confirm permitting pathway with the responsible county food-safety authority — exact pathway to be verified
    • Contact City of McMinnville planning and economic-development staff for nonprofit lease terms and incentives
    • Submit grant applications (USDA LAMP, Oregon agriculture funding programs to be verified, Regional foundation — partner to be identified, local community foundation to be identified)
    • Begin fundraising campaign for $150K–$250K startup capital
    • Begin McMinnville-area adjunct teaching outreach (nearby college and extension contacts — institutions to be verified)
    • Launch Groundworks Instagram 3–6 months before opening
    • Review the updated financial model with the regional small-business development center
    • Identify composting partner, coffee roasters, bakery partners, brewery partners for Kegs for a Cause
    • Research bilingual signage/menu translation and identify bilingual staff candidates
  3. Phase C
    Launch
    Late 2028 or early 2029
    Upcoming

    Doors open. The community food culture space becomes real.

    • Sign lease on commercial space (1,500–2,500 SF in McMinnville)
    • Complete kitchen buildout and the required food-safety inspection; confirm the responsible authority and process
    • Farm stand fixtures, shelving, POS system, signage, SNAP / EBT terminal
    • Hire first employee: a cook
    • Stock initial inventory from farm partners
    • Bilingual signage and menus installed
    • Insurance secured (general liability, property, workers' comp, ~$15K–$20K/year)
    • Open doors: café and farm stand operating 6 days/week, education programming 2 events/week
    • Community table dinner within first month; Kegs for a Cause within first month
  4. Phase D
    Stabilization
    2029 – 2030
    Upcoming

    The space is running. Now make it sustainable.

    • Hire second employee (programming coordinator or food operations assistant)
    • Expand to 7-day operations once staffing supports it
    • Apply for the appropriate Oregon liquor license after confirming the pathway, eligibility, and fees
    • Add farm box subscription program (Phase 1B) via Local Food Marketplace
    • Expand education programming based on community demand
    • Explore wholesale to restaurants and institutional sales
    • Evaluate membership program
    • Pilot upcycled food product line: source surplus from 1–2 partner farms
    • Drew's hours stabilize at 20–25/week; teaching ramps back up to 1–2 courses/semester
    • Expand bilingual programming: select workshops/events in Spanish, bilingual social media

§11.1 Phase A go/no-go · December 2026

A concept validation checkpoint, not a launch decision.

"Is the concept validated? Do the economics work on paper? Did the expert conversations and apprenticeship confirm the model? Is there energy from potential corridor partners?"

Criteria for GO (proceed to Phase B)

  • 10–15 expert/mentor conversations completed with positive signal
  • Survey shows 25%+ "definitely would visit" and 40%+ WTP $14+
  • At least 1 pop-up event executed with positive feedback
  • Financial model stress-tested and viable on paper
  • Corridor grower and food-operator conversations confirm the gap
  • Foodshed apprenticeship learnings documented and applied to model
  • 1–2 advisory board members committed

DELAY (extend 3–6 months): most signals positive but survey incomplete or conversations still pending. RELEASE: expert conversations consistently negative, survey shows <20% interest, or financial model doesn't work even with optimistic assumptions. Releasing is a win — the testing produced clarity.

§11.2 Phase B go/no-go · ~mid-2028

The launch decision.

4 Hard Gates (all must pass), 6 Confidence Signals (need 4 of 6), and 6 Red Lights (any one triggers Release or Delay).

Hard gates (all 4 must pass)

G1

Legal entity exists

501(c)(3) filed and pending or approved. Fiscal sponsor active if pending. EIN obtained. Bank account open.

G2

Board minimum met

Minimum 3 board seats filled (Legal, Finance, Philanthropic Connector). 5 seats ideal.

G3

Capital path realistic

Identified funding sources totaling $70K minimum. At least 2 sources confirmed or near-confirmed.

G4

Location identified

1+ viable property with real rent quotes, correct zoning verified, event capability confirmed, landlord willing to negotiate.

Confidence signals (need 4 of 6)

S1
Demand
50+ strangers interested. 25%+ "definitely would visit." 25+ WTP $14+. 40%+ interested in 2+ programming types.
S2
Farm Supply
3–5 farms confirmed for weekly supply at fair wholesale. Major crop gaps addressed.
S3
Expert Validation
3 of 5 mentors/experts say "this has legs." 1+ food service operator has reviewed plan.
S4
Supper Club Proof
1–2 pop-up dinners completed. 20+ attendees. 50%+ stranger ratio. NPS 40+. 1+ chef partner confirmed.
S5
Programming Readiness
3+ speaker commitments for first 6 months. 12+ film titles with rights confirmable. Bookshelf plan complete.
S6
Fundraising Traction
2+ Founder's Table prospects committed or near-committed ($10K+ each). 1+ grant application submitted.

Red lights (any one = release or delay)

  • R1 — Less than 20% "definitely would visit" on survey (100+ responses)
  • R2 — Fewer than 5 farms interested in supply relationship
  • R3 — No viable property after 6+ months of active searching
  • R4 — No realistic funding path to $70K after board is seated
  • R5 — Cannot fill 3 priority board seats after 6+ months
  • R6 — 3+ of 5 expert/mentor conversations result in "don't do this"

The decision

Sign the lease, extend, or release.

  • GO — All 4 gates passed, 4+ signals green, zero red lights. Sign the lease. Proceed to Phase C.
  • DELAY — 1 gate close but not met, OR 3 of 6 signals green with path to 4, OR 1 resolvable red light. Extend 3–6 months.
  • RELEASE — 1+ gates failed (no path), OR <3 signals green, OR 2+ red lights. Release the concept.