Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc.
Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. (BBC) used HFFI financing to support The Bridgeport Market, Café & Community Kitchen (MC2) initiatives in Cleveland, Ohio. Through the development of a market, café, and community kitchen, this project will create sustainable employment and business opportunities, improve access to healthy affordable foods, and promote education. The community kitchen includes a training area for cooking classes and health literacy classes for adults and youth, as well as a facility that allows local farmers and gardeners to prepare and package food. The MC2 food hub will hire and train up to 64 low-income people from the community. You can find more information here.
Source of money: HFFI CED Program
Economic and Community Development Institute
The Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) is using HFFI financing to support the Food Desert Community Outreach and Jobs Creation Program in Columbus, Ohio. The program’s goal is to increase healthy food access and generate jobs for low-income individuals by creating a revolving loan fund for food-related businesses. ECDI is also working to develop an FCI Plaza Market grocery store and a community food commissary that serves as an incubator for food-based businesses. ECDI is also working with Green City Growers of Cleveland to develop a 3.25-acre hydroponic greenhouse, which will employ 40 residents and be the largest inner-city greenhouse in the U.S. You can find more information here.
Source of money: HFFI CED Program
University Circle Incorporated
University Circle Incorporated (UCI) is using HFFI financing to support a low-interest loan for the expansion of Constantino’s Market, a locally owned grocery in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, which is a low-income community that lacks healthy food access. The owners of Constantino’s Market worked with a certified training provider to break down barriers to employment for individuals with economic disadvantages, physical or mental disabilities, and/or a history of incarceration. You can find more information here.
Source of money: HFFI CED Program
Cincinnati Development Fund
Cincinnati Development Fund (CDF) is using HFFI financing to underwrite a $190,000 loan for locally owned Clifton Natural Foods to move into a new location in Cincinnati, where they will expand fresh food options to include more produce and organic dairy, and become more accessible to the adjacent neighborhood, Northside, which is low/moderate income and recently lost their only supermarket. You can find more information here.
Source of money: HFFI CDFI-Financial Assistance Program
Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation
Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) is using HFFI financing to support the expansion of Roots Urban Farm and the Kitchen Incubator project in Youngstown, Ohio. Roots Urban Farm offers training in gardening, farming, and vacant land reuse to participants of all ages. The Kitchen Incubator project aims to provide start-up businesses with facilities to create value-added food products. These programs will leverage approximately $900,000 in outside funding, and they will hire, train, and create entrepreneurship opportunities for 45 low-income community members. You can find more information here.
Source of money: HFFI CED Program