City Unveils Plan to Invest $400K in Food Storage Warehouse: A Game Changer for Local Communities!

The City of Owensboro is considering an extra $400,000 to support a refrigerated food warehouse project. If the proposal passes, the city’s total funding would reach $500,000.

This funding is part of a year-end budget amendment discussed at the recent City Commission meeting. City Manager Nate Pagan explained that while this amendment is routine, the additional support for the warehouse stands out.

“We initially set aside $100,000 for the project, but after discussions, the commission agreed to contribute more,” Pagan said.

The Green River Community Food Warehouse (GRCFW) is spearheading the effort to build a temperature-controlled warehouse. This facility will store large quantities of donated food, aiming to improve access to fresh meals for those in need.

Statistics from Feeding America reveal that over 15,000 people in Owensboro and Daviess County face food insecurity. This translates to a staggering demand for nearly 1.4 million meals each month. Steve Innes, a GRCFW founder, pointed out that the problem isn’t just about food scarcity; it’s mainly an infrastructure issue.

“Thank you for your support. We have a long journey ahead,” Innes stated. “Once operational, we’ll provide an additional 215,000 meal equivalents to help 2,400 more food-insecure people.”

Innes expressed particular gratitude to Mayor Tom Watson for his early support. “Your backing made this project possible,” he said.

The proposed 20,000-square-foot facility will include refrigeration and freezer storage for proteins and fresh produce, alongside dry storage. It can handle up to 20 truckloads of food each month, significantly boosting the supply for local pantries.

Rather than functioning as a direct food bank, the warehouse will act as a distribution hub. It will provide food at no cost to local pantries, helping them overcome challenges in managing large donations.

GRCFW is in talks with the Tri-State Food Bank about potentially taking over warehouse operations. However, many local pantries don’t meet Feeding America’s standards, limiting their ability to receive food. Innes emphasized the goal to serve all pantries, regardless of affiliation.

Building this warehouse requires a total investment of $4.35 million, covering construction and three years of operational costs.

The City Commission will hold a second reading and final vote on the funding proposal in their next meeting.

For more details about the warehouse, you can explore our prior coverage here.

Source link

HEADLINE