Prince Edward County Council has agreed to provide funding support for the County Food Hub.
The decision came this evening at their regular Council meeting at Shire Hall.
The County Food Hub (CFH), in partnership with the municipality, successfully applied for $115,000 in funding through the Agricultural Workforce Equity and Diversity Initiative (AWEDI) to introduce a 12-part food entrepreneur incubator program and make minor capital upgrades that would better support food entrepreneurs, caterers, market vendors and food security groups using the shared commercial kitchen at CFH.
As a result, staff will be directed to develop a reimbursable financial agreement, valued at $40,000, with the County Food Hub to support projects funded through the Agricultural Workforce Equity and Diversity Initiative (AWEDI) program and a By-Law to execute the reimbursable financial agreement with the County Food Hub to support projects funded by the Agricultural Workforce Equity and Diversity Initiative Program be brought forward for enactment at the next feasible Council meeting.
Through this agreement, the municipality would fund the County Food Hub $40,000 in order to pay the upfront expenses in 2025/2026 and be fully reimbursed by CFH before the end of 2026, once they receive their grant fund reimbursements.
CFH is a federally incorporated non-profit organization with a certified commercial kitchen, providing food producers, food product developers, food security groups and schools with commercial equipment, space, and storage to serve their diverse needs. The commercial kitchen can be rented on an hourly, daily, one-time, or regular basis, depending on needs. Additionally, CFH offers three long-term tenant spaces at affordable rates for food entrepreneurs.
This vital community asset was borne out of community desire to keep the Sophiasburgh Central School operational, which was accomplished through significant community fundraising to lease and renovate approximately one half of the school building. CFH is led by an Executive Director with strategic support and guidance from a Board of Directors.
Council meets again on Oct 21 at Shire Hall for 7pm.
(HAILEY MACDONALD)
