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Date: 4/19/2022
CHICOPEE – The Food Bank of Western Mass. continues to proceed with the development of a food bank headquarters in Chicopee, including receiving a $9.5 million tax-exempt bond that will benefit the proposed 63,000 square-foot building on 25 Carew St.
MassDevelopment is issuing the bond while PeoplesBank is purchasing it, according to MassDevelopment’s press release. The additional funds will benefit the expenses for the project, which is set to double the storing space of the food bank’s current headquarters at 97 Hatfield Rd. in Hatfield.
The food bank project also received a $1.62 million MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant in February from the Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov Karyn Polito administration. Mayor John Vieau, Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi, state Sens. Eric Lesser and Adam Gomez and state Reps. Joseph Wagner, Michael Finn and Jacob Oliveira all expressed support for grant and the continued development of the headquarters during a Feb. 16 ceremony.
In a statement, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy discussed the bond and the state’s continued support for nonprofits like the Food Bank of Western Mass.
“The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to working with nonprofits like The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to end food insecurity across the Commonwealth… “We’re pleased that the City of Chicopee and The Food Bank were able to strategically utilize state funding sources in order to advance a project that will make a profound difference in the lives of people across Western Massachusetts,” said Kennealy.
Executive Director Andrew Morehouse also discussed the funding process. “The loan finances construction to be complemented and paid down by funding capital campaign pledge payments,” said Morehouse in a statement to Reminder Publishing.
Morehouse issued an April 5 press release that detailed progress of the Food Bank’s headquarters. He shared that the food bank reached 96 percent of its $26.3 million capital goal. The raised funds include 25 percent from state grants, 22 percent from individual donations, 22 percent from federal New Market Tax Credit investment and 18 percent from corporate donations.
As construction continues, The Food Bank of Western Mass. is preparing up for a crucial transition. The organization played a larger role combating food insecurity during the advent of the pandemic, with the food bank distributing 24 percent more food during 2020. The record-high total equates to 13.3 million meals distributed, according to the press release.
In 2021, the food bank returned to normal operations as state and federal aid programs assisted food insecurity issues during the pandemic. With conditions surrounding the pandemic now improving, The Food Bank of Western Mass. is expecting increased activity as several COVID-19-related aid programs expire.
“Food pantries are anecdotally reporting an increase in the number of visitors since it expired, including many new visitors,” said the Food Bank of Western Mass. in their press release.
Morehouse shared that the new headquarters prepares to help address the increased need. The larger space will allow for the nonprofit to distribute more food after declining more than one million pounds of donations over the last three years due to spacing issues. Other inclusions, such as a fortified loading dock, will also improve day-to-day operations.
The Western Mass. Food Bank will break ground on its new home in May, complete construction next spring and move in over the summer of 2023, according to their press release.