ROCHESTER – Foodlink officials on Thursday publicly announced plans for a $15 million, multi-year infrastructure and capacity-building project at both its Mt. Read Boulevard facility and community farm on Lexington Avenue.
Several ongoing construction projects will support Foodlink’s mission during a time when requests for emergency food assistance have increased dramatically. Last year, visits to local food pantries and meal programs rose 36% compared to the year prior. Someone sought out food assistance from a Foodlink member food pantry or meal program more than 1.8 million times in 2024 – up from 1.3 million in 2023. As a result, Foodlink has increased its investment in purchased food by 260%.
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President & CEO Julia Tedesco detailed the various capacity-building projects underway, and the fundraising efforts needed to complete the work in the years ahead.
“Foodlink’s work in its dual role as the convener of the emergency food system and an innovative public health organization reached unprecedented levels in the last five years – but it came at a price,” Tedesco said. “The wear and tear on our food bank, kitchen, fleet, and equipment now threatens our ability to keep up with a rising demand for food assistance. These major infrastructure improvements will better position us to enhance our level of service and uphold our commitment to the Rochester region.”
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The major highlights of the plan include:
- A new, energy-efficient commercial cooler which will lead to a 69% increase in cold storage space for produce, dairy and more. Foodlink distributes more than 25 million pounds of food annually and relies on its industrial coolers to provide fresh food for its network of food bank members and Pop-up Pantry distributions.
- In the neighborhood surrounding the Foodlink Community Farm on Lexington Avenue, Foodlink purchased additional parcels of land and plans to install more raised beds and welcome 50+ new families to the farm. The property on Lexington Avenue will include a new Edible Education Center and greenhouse to accommodate nutrition education opportunities and year-round growing opportunities.
- The Curbside Market, Foodlink’s innovative mobile market, will move into a new loading dock and operating space, which will be four times the size of its current area. This will improve the program’s operational efficiency, safety measures and preserve the integrity of the fresh product we provide to our loyal customers.
- Foodlink will expand its dry-storage space for its commercial kitchen and install additional ovens. The Foodlink Community Kitchen produces more than 10,000 healthy meals and snacks daily for local children – and surpassed 2 million meals last year for the first time ever.
- Other sustainability and safety measures at its Mt. Read facility include a newly paved rear parking lot for its kitchen and volunteer center, and exterior lighting enhancements.
Milestone Construction Partners and Hamilton Stern Construction are serving as the general contractors for the Mt. Read and farm projects, respectively. Erdman Anthony and SWBR Architecture are serving as the two primary design firms, with several other contractors and firms supporting various aspects of the plan.
“We are honored to partner with Foodlink on the transformative project at Mt. Read that will have a profound impact on our community,” said Andrea Convery, President of Milestone Construction Partners. “At Milestone, we are committed to building infrastructure that not only meets immediate needs but also fosters sustainable growth for the future. The upgrades to the Mt. Read Boulevard headquarters represent an incredible step forward in ensuring Foodlink’s mission can continue to thrive for years to come.”
Foodlink purchased its facility in the fall of 2022 and immediately went to work in early 2023 on its first priority: a $2 million roof and window replacement project. The remaining projects outlined above will develop in phases through 2027. Many of them, such as the cooler and farm, began to seriously take shape in the last several weeks.
The 5-year project has a price tag of $15 million. Foodlink has secured government funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the USDA, the NYS consolidated funding application and a City of Rochester ARPA grant. State Assemblymember Sarah Clark and Senator Jeremy Cooney also have been instrumental in securing additional state funding for both the Mt. Read facility and community farm projects. Congressman Joseph Morelle also helped Foodlink secure federal funds for its cooler expansion through the Community Funding Project program.
Foodlink is also participating in the New Markets Tax Credits program to help finance these essential investments. The tax credit offsets more than $1.3 million in costs and serves as a true “gap filler” in funding from New York State.
“Foodlink is so vital to our community, securing funding to support their work has been a top priority for me in the Assembly,” said Assemblymember Sarah Clark, who represents the 136th District. “Ensuring everyone has ongoing access to nutritious, quality food is paramount, and Foodlink continues to deliver on this mission. I am honored to have played a role in both renovations at the Mt. Read facility and farm expansion on Lexington, both of which will sustainably help more families have basic hunger needs met. Thank you to the leadership team Julia Tedesco and Mitch Gruber and the entire team at Foodlink for your unwavering commitment to filling this critical need in our region.”
In addition, a portion of the Thomas Golisano $5 million gift (over 5 years) awarded to Foodlink in 2024 will support these projects. In Year 1, $900,000 will support the community farm revitalization and $50,000 will go toward Mt. Read facility improvements. The remaining $50,000 will help offset purchased food costs for its food bank members.
Learn more about Foodlink’s ongoing construction and the impact it will have on the community – and how to support it – by visiting FoodlinkNY.org/NourishingTomorrow.
