The Corvallis Benton County Economic Development Office has officially announced the recipients of the first round of funding for the South Corvallis Food Hub grant program, marking a significant step forward for food accessibility in the region. A total of $495,000, sourced from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), has been allocated to jumpstart and improve the food landscape specifically in South Corvallis, Oregon. This initiative promises to bolster the local food system and provide crucial support to food-related businesses in the area, making “Food Corvallis Oregon” even more vibrant and accessible.
The grant program attracted considerable interest, with ten applications submitted, requesting a total of over $1.7 million. A diverse evaluation committee meticulously reviewed each application based on the South Corvallis Food Hub project’s core objectives: enhancing food access within South Corvallis, nurturing local food businesses, and fostering stronger connections throughout the local food network. To ensure inclusivity and support for all applicants, the Corvallis Benton EDO collaborated with the Linn-Benton Small Business Development Center, offering free assistance in proposal development, including facilitating meetings with Spanish-speaking community members. The Benton County Health Department also played a vital role by providing resources, equipment, and expert guidance to potential applicants.
The following organizations and businesses have been awarded grants to bring their innovative projects to life, further enriching the “food Corvallis Oregon” scene:
Enhancing Food Distribution and Access:
- Benton County Food Forum – Awarded $5,000 to optimize produce and meal delivery from the Southtown Stand and Farmers’ Market. Their plan utilizes a sustainable approach, employing a mix of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and traditional bicycles to expand the reach of fresh, local food within Corvallis.
- Ten Rivers Food Web – Receiving $153,000, Ten Rivers Food Web will establish a South Corvallis aggregation facility. This crucial infrastructure will streamline the process of receiving, storing, and distributing local food products to larger institutional buyers and local business owners through an efficient local delivery system, strengthening the supply chain for “food Corvallis Oregon”.
Supporting Local Food Businesses and Infrastructure:
- Flicker & Fir, LLC – Granted $37,000 for essential improvements to the Southtown Stand & Farmers’ Market. These upgrades include sun and rain mitigation structures, enhanced support and storage for food vendors, bike racks to encourage sustainable transportation, and a pilot program designed to boost vendor sales through pre-orders. This investment will directly enhance the vendor and customer experience at a key location for “food Corvallis Oregon”.
- Growing Ancestral Roots – Awarded $50,000 to offer a comprehensive suite of services to local food entrepreneurs. These services encompass access to shared kitchen space, storage solutions, training programs and workshops, marketing assistance, pop-up market opportunities, community events, low-barrier micro-grants, and business incubation support. This initiative aims to cultivate and empower the next generation of “food Corvallis Oregon” businesses.
- Las Doñas del Sur – Receiving a significant grant of $250,000, Las Doñas del Sur will purchase and operate food trucks for nine co-located entrepreneurs at a designated destination in South Corvallis. This project will create a vibrant food hub, offering diverse culinary experiences and business opportunities, and further diversify the “food Corvallis Oregon” landscape.
The grant funding is scheduled for distribution to recipients before December 31, 2024. Grant agreements stipulate that recipients are to develop and launch their funded projects throughout 2025, with ongoing support from the Economic Development Office and other local resources. These initiatives are poised to make a substantial impact on the “food Corvallis Oregon” community, improving access, supporting businesses, and fostering a more resilient local food system.
For more detailed information about the South Corvallis Food Hub project and its ongoing developments, please visit https://yescorvallis.org/grow.
