Bronx, NY – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and U.S. Representative José E. Serrano today announced $2,484,746 in federal funding for GrowNYC. The funding was allocated through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and will allow GrowNYC to move forward with construction of a new Greenmarket Regional Food Hub in the South Bronx. The new facility will include a new wholesale farmers’ market, USDA compliant cold storage facility, a food-processing center, and other infrastructure upgrades to support local food businesses.
“This $2.4 million announcement is a win-win for New York because it will provide the South Bronx community with greater access to fresh, nutritious food and it will boost the local economy by creating over 100 jobs. I am proud to have partnered with my colleagues in Congress in securing this critical EDA grant and look forward to the success of GrowNYC’s Greenmarket Regional Food Hub,” said U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer.
“We need to make access to healthy foods a priority in our communities,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “This funding will enable GrowNYC to expand their operations to increase access to nutritious produce in the Bronx and create new opportunities for our local farmers. Providing startups with these resources will continue to help boost the local economy, revitalize our communities, and create new good-paying jobs.”
“The new South Bronx food hub will connect farmers to new markets and ensure our communities have access to more local food, and this additional funding brings us one step closer to the hub’s opening,” Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said. “With this facility, we will promote the consumption of local, healthy food, create more than 200 construction and permanent jobs, and help build a stronger, healthier New York for all.”
“From its start, I have been a strong supporter of GrowNYC’s Greenmarket Regional Food Hub. I am glad that we were able to obtain this much-needed funding. This $2.5 million grant will allow the Food Hub to expand its operations to help local farmers, provide families with access to healthy food, and bring permanent living wage jobs to the Hunts Point neighborhood in the Bronx,” said Congressman Serrano. “By increasing access to fresh and healthy produce, the Greenmarket Regional Food Hub will help improve the health and quality of life for Bronx residents, while expanding jobs and economic opportunities in our borough.”
“We are extremely grateful to Congressman Serrano, as well as Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and the other members of the New York State Congressional Delegation who have supported this project. The New York State Greenmarket Regional Food Hub, under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, brings together federal, state, and city resources to protect vital opportunities for New York State farmers, keep their lands in production, and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to their fresh, healthy products. This additional funding builds upon the incredible $15 million commitment made by New York State, and will allow us to build a state-of-the-art resource for generations of family farms,” said GrowNYC President and CEO Marcel Van Ooyen.
The Greenmarket Regional Food Hub would provide small and mid-sized farmers access to New York City’s wholesale marketplace and expand GrowNYC’s food access programs like Youthmarket and the Fresh Food Box located in the Bronx. The new facility would provide nearly 20 million pounds of local produce a year and create approximately 131 new jobs.
EDA provides funding to distressed communities to assist in their efforts to develop strategies, infrastructure, and programming important to economic growth and job creation. EDA grants are awarded based on the application’s merit, the applicant’s eligibility, and the availability of funds. More information on EDA’s grant and investment process can be found at www.eda.gov.
Schumer, Gillibrand, and Serrano’s joint letter with 23 members from New York State included here.