KALAMAZOO —

Kalamazoo Valley Community College has plans for a $13 million culinary institute to be developed in downtown Kalamazoo some time in the future and is seeking state money to cover half of the cost.

The institute, according to information filed with the state, involves constructing a 50,000-square-foot space for commercial kitchens, a teaching restaurant, a teaching retail cafe/bakery, demonstration classrooms and a demonstration theater for distance-learning classes, and broadcasting a local cooking show.

On Wednesday, the project was included in capital-outlay bill approved by the Michigan Senate. However, it was left out of the House version that was passed the same day. The differences in the bills now must be reconciled.

Mike Collins, KVCC’s vice president for college and student relations, said the institute could be located at KVCC’s Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo or it could be part of a higher education center at the site of a proposed arena a couple of blocks to the west.

Where to build the institute is still being explored, Collins said.

One aspect of the plan includes connections between the college’s culinary program and Western Michigan University’s dietetics program as well as the university’s food service department.

Offering culinary studies has been a desire at the college for years, Collins said.

The possibility of a culinary school, however, was raised publicly in February as one of the potential amenities to accompany the proposed arena project.

“Obviously it has been discussed in that context but it’s not tied to that,” Collins said.

To research the possibilities, officials have visited college culinary programs at Grand Rapids Community College and two other state schools.

“Based on what we’ve heard, we think there’s demand and that this is the right time,” he said.

KVCC’s project is one of several construction projects in the Senate’s capital-outlay bill that would allow bond debt to help cover construction projects worth $630.9 million across the state, primarily at colleges and universities.

The Senate bill was approved by a 28-9 vote. State Sen. Tom George, R-Texas Township, voted against it.

Capital-outlay financing for community colleges call for the state to pay half of the cost of a project.

Contact Paula M. Davis at

or 269-388-8583.