FEATURED PROJECT
Illuminating the Path to a Hunger-Free Future with NMTC
HIGHLIGHTS
$62 million total project cost
211,650 Square-Foot Hunger Relief Center
184 Full Time Jobs
Innovative Workforce Development Programs
Anticipated Service to 716,000 Food-Insecure Individuals by 2029
Feeding Tampa Bay
About Feeding Tampa Bay
A Beacon of Hope in the Fight Against Hunger
Feeding Tampa Bay is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger in its 10-county west central Florida service area by 2025. As a member of the Feeding America network, they have been at the forefront of hunger relief efforts since their inception. The organization distributes millions of meals annually through a network of over 400 agency partners, including food pantries, shelters, and meal programs. They also operate mobile pantries and offer direct services to ensure that food reaches those who need it most. They have recently embarked on a crucial mission to construct a state-of-the-art hunger relief center with the help of a $7 million New Market Tax Credit financing provided by the Black Business Investment Fund.
THE CHALLENGE
The Urgent Battle Against Hunger
Feeding Tampa Bay faces the daunting challenge of combating hunger in its expansive 10-county west central Florida service area. The organization operates in an environment where hundreds of thousands of individuals are food-insecure, with many struggling to access basic nutritional needs. The 2020-2025 Community Health Improvement Plan by the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County underscored the severity of the issue, highlighting the urgent need for a strategic solution.
Feeding Tampa Bay also faces the logistical challenge of distributing food across a large geographic area, which requires a robust infrastructure and consistent support from volunteers and donors. The organization needed a space that could support their extensive volunteer efforts, facilitate the efficient distribution of food, and provide ample storage for both dry and cold foods. Additionally, they required a facility with the ability to grow alongside the organization's expanding needs, ensuring sustainable operations and scalability for future growth.
THE SOLUTION
Building a Hunger Relief Center for a Brighter Future
Feeding Tampa Bay is taking bold steps to combat hunger by constructing a groundbreaking 211,650 square foot hunger relief center. This facility will feature ample space for dry, cold, and freezer storage, a larger and more productive culinary kitchen, a food processing area, five separate meeting rooms, a large community all-purpose room, three partner workstations, and a community store on the lower level. This comprehensive infrastructure is designed to support the organization’s extensive volunteer efforts and efficient food distribution, ensuring that they can meet the growing needs of the community.
This new facility will offer services that go beyond traditional food bank and pantry services. Feeding Tampa Bay will offer the FRESHforce Workforce Development Program, which provides culinary skills, warehouse logistics, and truck driving courses to hard-to-employ individuals. The Nutrition Nudges program is a nutrition education class at school pantries, while the Food Plus program helps those in need determine their eligibility for SNAP benefits and guides them through the application process. The Nutrition Kitchen is a fully-equipped mobile kitchen that brings cooking demonstrations, taste tests, and recipes directly into the community, allowing families to try recipes made with the foods distributed or learn new ways of cooking pantry staples.
THE IMPACT
A Beacon of Hope and Resilience
The impact of Feeding Tampa Bay's new hunger relief center is poised to be profound. By 2029, the project is expected to serve a staggering 716,000 food-insecure individuals annually, making significant strides in reducing hunger in the region. Feeding Tampa Bay's new hunger relief center encompasses one of BBIF’s key NMTC focus areas: providing underserved communities access to healthy food.
In addition to alleviating hunger, the center aims to create economic opportunities through job training programs and support services, empowering individuals to achieve long-term self-sufficiency. This holistic approach not only addresses immediate needs but also fosters resilience and community well-being.
We take great pride in investing in transformative projects like Feeding Tampa Bay's hunger relief center. The impact this facility will have in the Tampa Bay community is remarkable. We are eagerly anticipating the positive change it will bring and are thrilled to be part of this journey towards a brighter future for all.
Duane Lewis
COO, BBIF
