Food Security Grants Awarded to Hampden Suppliers
BOSTON- State Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) joined the Healey-Driscoll Administration today to announce $1,013,716 in grant funding being awarded to 7 Massachusetts food system enterprises in Hampden County, helping to sustain Massachusetts’ food production and distribution sectors, while at the same time working to ensure that fresh, healthy, local food is available to all residents. This funding is being distributed through the innovative Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program, a competitive grant program managed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and designed to ensure farmers and other local food producers are better connected to a strong and resilient food system.
Senator Gomez, a former Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, had this to say on the funding, “Our food system plays an integral role in our economy, cultural, public health, and future success. These grants are diverse in scope, and all aid in strengthening consumer’s relationship to the food they eat while ensuring that our producers, distributors, and other stakeholders can continue to provide the level of care and sustenance that Massachusetts residents rely on. I am proud of this Administration’s continued commitment to strengthening our local infrastructure and shortening our food miles.”
Launched in 2020 as a recommendation of the Massachusetts Food Security Task Force, the FSIG program provides grants for capital infrastructure investments that increase access to locally produced food for families and individuals throughout the state who may be facing food insecurity, live in gateway cities or food deserts, or otherwise face unequal access to food. The program seeks to ensure that farmers, fishers, and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate future supply chain issues.
The following projects from the Senator’s district are set to receive funds through the grant program:
Fruit Fair Supermarket in Chicopee for $286,191.00
La Arecibeña Torres Family Farm in Indian Orchard for $3,387.00
McKinstry Market Garden, Inc in Chicopee for $441,165.00
Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts in Springfield for $96,680.00
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Chicopee for $158,132.00
United Way of Pioneer Valley in Springfield for $11,876.00
Wellspring Harvest Corporation in Springfield for $16,285.00
To learn more about the grant program, please visit https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-to-the-food-security-infrastructure-grant-fsig-program .