Cornell Cooperative Extension Secures Grant Aimed at Expanding Local Food Access

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (October 5, 2023) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension Chautauqua County is excited to announce new programming, entitled “Grow Chautauqua Food System Program.” Food security has long been an important concern for a variety of County wide organizations. It is a concern that requires diverse programming and collaboration between a multitude of agencies. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County is no stranger to strong collaborations. In January of 2023, in partnership with several organizations, municipalities, and businesses, CCE Chautauqua submitted a proposal for the NY Food for NY Families program, aiming to bring significant dollars to Chautauqua County. Our focus is on expanding healthy food access and economic development for local agricultural growers and producers.

In September CCE Chautauqua received the news that $800,000 has been awarded to administer the program from January 2024 - August 2025.

This program includes the implementation of several distribution sites and events across Chautauqua County. CCE has posted a position for program coordination, seeking a person to oversee the project, work with county and regional farmers, dairy producers, and other NYS ag producers to procure produce, dairy products, meat products, baked goods, and other local foods. Over $500,000 will be invested in NYS product. Brigiotta’s Farmland Produce has agreed to be the lead partner in packaging NYS procured foods into boxes for up to 500 individual boxes per week. Distribution events will include collaborative sites partnering with Office of the Aging’s Local Roots Program, aimed at servicing senior citizens in areas such as Brocton, Cassadaga, and Fredonia; St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Jamestown Public Market’s Mobile Market program, aimed at low-income and minority communities; Rural Ministries of Dunkirk, aimed at servicing food insecure individuals; and Five Loaves + 20 Fish Ministries, servicing the ‘food desert’ area of Sherman/Clymer, specifically youth and families.

Distribution of NYS food boxes will be at no cost to community members, first come, first serve. Distribution sites will be hosted for a total of 40 weeks between June 2024 and August 2025, and promoted via social media, print media, and traditional outreach. Community members will not be required to pre-register or provide identification or other means of documentation to receive a box of NYS grown/produced food. Each box will average 10-12 pounds, and include a variety of produce, meats and other products.

Collaboration is the key to success for many local agencies and municipalities. CCE is proud to partner with such a wide range of services and organizations across the county to increase food access. Food insecurity is a high concern for Chautauqua County, with 17% of residents living below the poverty line. Vince DeJoy, Planning and Development Director for the City of Dunkirk, remarks, “As with any worthy endeavor, collaboration, cooperation, and partnerships exhibited the key to success in obtaining the critical funding from NY Food for NY Families to help feed those in need with healthy and nutritious food grown here in New York. Chautauqua County is a large geographic area but becomes a measure smaller as we work together in both urban and rural areas to locally source, package, and distribute meat, dairy, and produce to address food insecurity, and provide a marketplace for Chautauqua County agricultural producers.”

The goal of the project is to increase access to healthy, local foods, while providing a guaranteed income for local farms and NYS producers. Longer-term impacts of the project include deeper connection between local farms and wholesale outlets, such as Brigiotta’s; a better understanding of the food access needs of county residents; and a sustainable food distribution model that could be replicated across the county at churches, schools, or other community service organizations.

As described by NY Ag and Markets, the NY Food for NY Families funding will “…create a more resilient statewide food system that supports local farms and provides high quality, nutritious food to communities facing food insecurity. Food purchases will support local and traditionally disadvantaged farmers by building and expanding economic opportunities and creating new marketing channels for them within the state while ensuring local food gets to New York families who need it most.”

For CCE, a wider coalition made perfect sense. Many organizations, such as OFA and St. Luke’s have been engaged in food access programs for several years. Expanding partnerships to include other food service groups and municipalities provides opportunity to reach community members in both urban centers and more rural areas of the county. There was limited time to put together a proposal for funding, and CCE credits its community partners for the successful submission of the Request for Proposal.

CCE is honored that NYS supplied funding for Chautauqua County, Executive Director Emily Reynolds stated “It is a great part of a wider county effort to address food access needs. CCE is happy to assist in the development of a broad partnership to help face the concerns of our community.”

For more information on the Grown Chautauqua Food System Project or to share the job posting please reach out to CCE Chautauqua or visit: https://chautauqua.cce.cornell.edu/

CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated November 30, 2023