Louisville, KY — May 29, 2025 — Chef Space, operating under the auspices of Kentucky nonprofit Community Ventures, is excited to announce a gift from the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation. The Foundation, established by David and Wendy Novak in 1999, has for nearly three decades been empowering individuals from all walks of life to achieve their full potential. Their mission is a perfect fit with that of Chef Space, an innovative kitchen incubator initiative that exists to uplift aspiring culinary entrepreneurs while bolstering positive economic impact and community outreach in West Louisville’s Russell neighborhood.
The Lift A Life award will expand the reach of Chef Space’s Entrée-Preneurship program, an intensive food business boot camp created for local and regional entrepreneurs intent on launching the next great restaurant experience or delectable packaged goods concept. This eight-week educational series equips small business hopefuls with a solid business foundation as they seek to turn a dream into a sustainable reality.
“When someone walks through our doors with a handwritten recipe, a food truck idea, or just a dream to support their family while doing something they love—our job is to meet them there, teach them what they need to know, and walk with them until it becomes real,” said Chef Space President Tom Murro. “Lift a Life’s support is a belief in the power of people who’ve often been overlooked.”
The Entrée-preneurship program taps experts in the culinary field to instruct participants in business planning, licensing compliance, and marketing and branding while simultaneously granting them the use of Chef Space’s state-of-the-art commercial kitchen. The curriculum was built specifically for under-resourced entrepreneurs who often lack access to traditional startup capital, professional networks, or formal business education.
Because the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation works to identify leaders passionate about making a difference in the lives of others, they are committed to partnering with organizations led by those with the capability, the know-how and the personal passion to help those they serve reach their full potential.
Lift A Life Novak Family Foundation support will allow Entrée-preneurship to educate at least 75 new participants over the next 12 months, sharing the tools, training and mentorship that enrollees need to ensure success. The grant will underpin personnel costs for program delivery, allowing Chef Space to retain and grow the capacity of its leadership team. At the center of that team is Murro, who has personally coached over 300 entrepreneurs over the past five years.
With this funding, Chef Space aims to:
- Graduate at least 60 entrepreneurs in the next year
- Support the launch of 3–5 new food-based businesses
- Create 12–20 new jobs in the West Louisville area
- Expand wraparound services like school supply drives and community meal distributions
Chef Space is one of the few kitchen incubators in the country situated within a historically marginalized neighborhood. In 2024 alone, its programming resulted in the creation of 18 full- and part-time jobs and helped 12 entrepreneurs transition from side-hustles to full-time ventures. Lift a Life’s contribution ensures that momentum continues—and grows.
Lift a Life joins a small but growing network of funders who are helping reimagine what local economic development can look like: people-centered, outcomes-driven, and rooted in dignity.
About Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation
Founded by David and Wendy Novak, Lift a Life supports innovative, measurable projects that address hunger, leadership, education, and military family support. The foundation prioritizes local partnerships with proven impact. Learn more at www.liftalifefoundation.org.
About Chef Space : Chef Space is a nonprofit kitchen incubator and entrepreneurial training hub in Louisville’s Russell neighborhood. Its mission is to remove barriers to business ownership in the food industry by providing access to licensed kitchens, mentorship, business development, and capital pathways. Learn more at www.chefspace.org.
About Community Ventures: Founded in 1982 as a community-based, non-profit organization, Community Ventures (CV) strengthens communities and improves the overall quality of life for Kentuckians by supporting job creation, small business ownership, and home ownership. CV is headquartered in Lexington with branch locations in Bowling Green, Campbellsville, Louisville, Mayfield, Millersburg, and Owensboro. For 21 consecutive years, CV has been named Microlender of the Year by the Kentucky Small Business Administration.