Project Grant 20193380030380

THE LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT COMPRISE CENTRAL BROOKLYN ARE AMONG NEW YORK'S TOP EIGHT MOST RAPIDLY GENTRIFYING NEIGHBORHOODS. PRICEY ORGANIC MARKETS, BOUTIQUE GROCERS AND ARTISAN FOOD SHOPS HAVE GROWN EXPONENTIALLY WHILE AGGRESSIVELY MARKETING TO WEALTHIER, MOSTLY WHITE, NEWCOMERS. AS A RESULT, THE MAJORITY LOW-INCOME BLACK AND LATINO POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT READY ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE FOOD OPTIONS AND WITHOUT THE ECONOMIC POWER THAT COMES FROM BUILDING LOCALLY-OWNED FOOD BUSINESSES.THE CENTRAL BROOKLYN FOOD DEMOCRACY PROJECT (THE PROJECT) WILL BUILD AN INTEGRATED FOOD ECONOMY IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN THAT GENERATES JOBS, PROVIDES ACCESS TO QUALITY FOOD AND ADVANCES A HEALTHY FOOD CULTURE AMONG THE LOW-INCOME, FOOD INSECURE SECTION OF CENTRAL BROOKLYN. THE PROJECT CENTERS ENTREPRENEURS, LOCAL WORKERS, AND CONSUMERS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD SYSTEM POWERED BY COOPERATIVE FOOD ENTERPRISES.THE PROJECT WILL:1) COMPLETE THE ORGANIZING AND OPENING OF THE CENTRAL BROOKLYN FOOD COOP (THE FOOD COOP), A BLACK-LED CONSUMER-OWNED FOOD COOP DEDICATED TO SERVICE TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME PEOPLE. THE FOOD COOP, WHICH IS THE NERVE CENTER AND ENGINE OF THE PROJECT, WILL BE A CONVERGENCE POINT FOR LOCAL FARMERS, WORKER-OWNED VENDORS AND HEALTHY FOOD EDUCATION. THE THOUSANDS OF FOOD COOP MEMBERS WILL PROVIDE THE MARKET BASE FOR THE PROJECT. 2) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WORKING WORLD, START 6 NEW WORKER-OWNED, DEMOCRATICALLY-RUN COOPERATIVE FOOD BUSINESSES, AND SUPPORT THE EXISTING 2 WORKER-OWNED COOPS, EMPLOYING AT LEAST 36 PEOPLE. THE PROJECT WILL LEVERAGE THE MARKET BASE AND OPPORTUNITIES GENERATED BY THE FOOD COOP TO FORM BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS AND ESTABLISH ALONG A FOOD VALUE CHAIN OF GROWERS, AGGREGATORS, TRANSPORTERS, PACKAGERS AND SELLERS. 3) INTEGRATE A FOOD EDUCATION INSTITUTE WITHIN THE FOOD COOP BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO RISEBORO'S COMMUNITY CHEF KITCHEN. THE CHEFS WILL TEACH CULINARY COURSES, CONDUCT COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, AND CATER EVENTS AMONG THE FOOD COOP COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES, WHILE TRAINING MEMBERS OF THE FOOD COOP TO LEAD HEALTHY SUSTAINABLE LIVES. 4) CREATE A PROJECT LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT WILL ENSURE COORDINATION AND CREATE A CENTRAL BROOKLYN FOOD DEMOCRACY SUPPORT NETWORK.