Allen Neighborhood Center

SERVING THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF MICHIGAN'S CAPITAL CITY, THE 18 YEAR-OLD, YEAR-ROUND ALLEN FARMERS MARKET IS RELOCATING WITHIN OUR BLOCK-SIZED COMPLEX. THIS MOVE IS A RESULT OF THE CREATION OF ALLEN PLACE, OUR NEW, MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT FEATURING 21 APARTMENTS, A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CLINIC TO SERVE LOW-MODERATE INCOME NEIGHBORS, A CONSIGNMENT GROCERY STORE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FARMERS, AND AN ACCELERATOR KITCHEN, HOME TO FOUR FOOD START-UPS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ALLEN PLACE DEVELOPMENT WILL RE-INVIGORATE OUR FARMERS MARKET AFTER TWIN CHALLENGES OF COVID AND CONSTRUCTION. IT WILL OFFER NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE WITH MULTIPLE ON-SITE STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE CLINIC, ELFCO CONSIGNMENT GROCERY/FOOD CO-OP, AND BUSINESSES IN OUR ACCELERATOR KITCHEN, TO MUTUALLY PROMOTE SERVICES AND CO-CREATE EVENTS TO DRAW NEW PATRONS TO THE MARKET. GIVEN REDUCED ON-SITE CAR PARKING IN THE COMPLEX, WE WILL CREATE INTRA-NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER TRANSIT OPTIONS, INCLUDING PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY FOR A SHELTER AND ENHANCED BUS SERVICE. WE WILL ALSO UTILIZE PEDI-CABS TO GIVE PATRONS THAT WALK TO THE MARKET A LIFT HOME WITH THEIR PURCHASES. WE ALSO SEEK SUPPORT FOR THE HUNTER PARK GARDENHOUSE, OUR URBAN FARM LOCATED 2 BLOCKS FROM ALLEN PLACE IN A 13-ACRE PARK. WE WILL VIGOROUSLY PROMOTE URBAN AGRI-TOURISM THROUGH EDUCATIONAL TOURS OF OUR YEAR-ROUND, 96' X 30' GREENHOUSE AND IN AN ACRE OF CULTIVATED PARKLAND. THE AGRI-TOURISM OFFERINGS WILL ALSO INCLUDE TOURS OF A SELECTION OF THE 12-15 LOCAL URBAN FARMS ON LANSING'S EASTSIDE.

BUILD UPON THAT REALIZATION WITH MAJOR EXPANSIONS OF OUR EDUCATIONALPROGRAMS, INCLUDING INTRODUCTION OF A ROBUST TRAINING CURRICULUM FORYOUTH AND ADULTS ON AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURISM

GROWING THE EASTSIDE FOOD DISTRICT: MULTIPLE, INTEGRATED PROJECTS TO SUPPORT PRODUCER-TO-CONSUMER SALES & TO ENSURE YEAR ROUND ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD

FROM URBAN GARDENING TO URBAN AGRICULTURE: GROWING MORE FOOD, FARMERS, AND COMMUNITY ON LANSING?S EASTSIDE

CN FARM TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENTAL

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.