Grant Program Aims to Increase Access to Fresh Food, Gain Jobs

WORCESTER, MA—The Baker-Polito Administration announced on Monday that the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has awarded $811,176 for three community-based food ventures to expand their operations, including one in Worcester County.

The Worcester Public Kitchen is getting $500,000 to be used to purchase specialized equipment for Worcester Public Kitchen’s manufacturing operation that focuses primarily on processing Massachusetts grown and harvested food products. The end product will be shelf stable and other value-added products, helping emerging food businesses scale up.

The grants are awarded through the Massachusetts Food Ventures Program (MFVP), a grant program that aims to improve food access and expand economic opportunities by encouraging new food ventures throughout the state.

“Community-based food ventures and enterprises play a critical role in connecting Massachusetts farmers and their healthy, locally grown food products to Commonwealth residents,” said Governor Charlie Baker in a statement. “By supporting these enterprises, the Massachusetts Food Ventures Program plays an important role in our administration’s efforts to reduce food insecurity and improve economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income communities across the Commonwealth.”

“Massachusetts’ local agricultural enterprises provide residents nutritious food products as well as opportunities for local job creation and entrepreneurship,”said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Through the Massachusetts Food Ventures Program, we are proud to fund the strategic investments in agricultural infrastructure that are vitally important for businesses like commercial kitchens, greenhouses, farmers markets and food truck commissaries.”

The MFVP provides financial support to food ventures sited primarily in or near communities of low- or moderate-income, including Gateway Cities and rural communities.

“Worcester Public Kitchen is at the intersections of food access and security, the local food movement, and supporting emerging businesses,” said State Representative Mary Keefe, D-Worcester, in a statement. “I’m very pleased that this grant will increase their production scale and overall impact in our community.”

MDAR’s goals have been to increase and sustain the capacity of local food producers and enterprises to provide tangible, measurable benefits to residents in low-moderate income communities which include increased access to healthy, Massachusetts-produced foods, entrepreneurial opportunities, and economic enhancement.

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