A $2M state grant targets food insecurity and boosts local food suppliers. Here's how.
NEW BEDFORD — The Flying Carrot Farm Farms in Dartmouth and Tichon Seafood Corporation in New Bedford are among the farms and fishing businesses awarded $2 million in state grant funding.
Nearly $2 million in Food Security Infrastructure Grants were granted to farm and seafood companies in the Greater New Bedford area to strengthen local food systems and part of the $26.3 million in grants awarded statewide.
The grant program was created to combat urgent food insecurity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, originally authorized by the state legislature during the pandemic, this year’s round of funding was made possible by a $25 million appropriation in the 2022 economic development bill, an act relating to economic growth and relief.
Helping families have access to nutritious food
The program supports projects to ensure individuals and families across Massachusetts have access to nutritious food, with a special focus on food that is produced locally. The program also emphasizes equitable access to food and energy conservation, he said in a press release.
He said the program seeks to ensure that farmers, fishermen, and other local producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system.
“Supporting our local fishermen and farmers is a crucial necessity toward maintaining food security for our community and across the Commonwealth,” he said. “The pandemic exposed great weaknesses in our national food supply, and it is vital that we invest in our local infrastructure to ensure our community can benefit from a resilient food system now and well into the future.”
New Bedford, Dartmouth groups receive grants
Several New Bedford-area farms and small businesses have been awarded grants.
The grant awards include $60,276 to the Flying Carrot Farm, $120,000 to Copicut Farms LLC and $84,208 to Round the Bend Farm Inc. All three are located in Dartmouth.
The grant awards also include $500,000 to Tichon Seafood Corporation, $204,053 to MELC LLC, $51,903 to Coastal Foodshed Inc., $43,000 to Cura & Borges Fishing Corp. ‐ F/V Sao Paulo, $16,800 to M&P Fishing Corporation ‐ F/V Fisherman and $350,000 to Kyler Seafood. All are located in New Bedford.
The New Bedford Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services was also awarded a grant to purchase a warehouse freezer to create a central kitchen and culinary center in the city’s West End to benefit the public school system. The grant award for the project is $449,330.
Governor supports projects following extreme weather
For the first time in the history of this program, the administration prioritized projects that support organizations impacted by drought or extreme weather events, according to a press release from the Healey-Driscoll Administration.
“In speaking to farmers over the past week, it’s clear that they need support now more than ever after being hit hard by extreme weather events from flooding to drought to late frost,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “Our farmers are the backbone of Massachusetts’ food infrastructure, and it’s critical that we continue to make short and long-term investments through grants like these to help strengthen resiliency and enhance mitigation efforts.”
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Healey-Driscoll Administration officials say the recent flooding in Western and Central Massachusetts is expected to have a further impact on food security in Massachusetts, as many impacted farms play an important role in combating hunger.
Officials have been assessing damage at farms and discussing recovery and mitigation efforts over the past week.
The program is designed to ensure farmers and other local food producers are better connected to a strong and resilient food system.
It provides grants for capital infrastructure investments that increase access to locally produced food for families and individuals who may be facing food insecurity, live in gateway cities or food deserts, or otherwise face unequal access to food.
Administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the program is subject to authorization by the state legislature.
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford schools, Dartmouth farms receive grants to combat hunger
