“ The USDA and other entities showed that they really wanted to expand their development of the local food system , recognizing that agriculture wasn ’ t reaching a lot of plates . They were looking for alternative ways to grow the foods needed and marketed in the neighborhoods where people need them . That ’ s taken more than ten years , but it takes a while for people to catch up .”
In October 2018 , Southside launched its Grow ! capital campaign to raise $ 5.4 million to build the Farm-to-Market Center and maintain its land holdings . The campaign sought public and private donations even as the pandemic rendered its annual fundraising event virtual . By 2021 , SCLT had raised about 85 percent of the total , but it wasn ’ t enough to realize the organization ’ s vision to add space for three local businesses and the extra expense that came with it . In October 2021 , the SCLT secured a $ 2.1 million loan from the Healthy Retail and Commerce Fund , a collaboration between the Conservation Law Foundation and the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation , which administers the fund . The dollars came from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island , the Kresge Foundation and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island .
Darrèll Brown , vice president and director of CLF Rhode Island , says that SCLT ’ s 404 Broad project was a good investment and a “ perfect fit ” for his organization .
“ It will allow city residents to participate in farming , and it ’ s an attraction for the youth to learn about the business of farming . Having that activity occur in an urban setting is healthy for the environment .”
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures , many states and cities have opened offices of sustainability and founded food policy councils to amplify local food production and strengthen networks among producers , distributors and consumers . Emily Koo , the city of Providence ’ s director of sustainability , says that SCLT ’ s expansion dovetails nicely with the city ’ s climate justice goal to “ build a local and regenerative economy which includes support of a resilient local food system .”
On the federal level , a 2018 federal
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