Newark, NJ August 30, 2002 – Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced today the 14 recipient organizations that will receive funding from the Nourishing Newark Community Grants Program. The City of Newark is investing $2 million to support community-based organizations to combat hunger and food insecurity resulting from, and worsened by the adverse economic impacts related to COVID-19. With the great disruptions to the global economy, many low-income Newark families are experiencing a greater degree of food insecurity than ever before. The Nourishing Newark Community Grants Program seeks to spur the creation and expansion of sustainable urban food cooperatives, and other community-based healthy food distribution channels. You can find the list of recipients here.

Better Tomorrows will use funding from this grant to better connect the residents of Harrison Park Square, Somerset Brownstone, and Boulevard West, to local growers and nutrition classes at all three sites. The grant will also allow for acquisition of additional shelving and to enhance storage space in the on-site pantries.

“14 highly deserving Newark community organizations are receiving $2 million in grants to advance urban agriculture and increase our community’s food self-sufficiency,” Mayor Baraka said. “These grants will make a major difference in the lives of residents, improving their wellbeing by ending food deserts, creating community gardens that provide fresh, healthy food to families in need, and strengthening neighborhood economies. I congratulate each organization on earning this grant award. They will keep moving Newark forward.”

 This program aligns with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Food Desert Relief Program designed around the central purpose of eradicating food deserts. A “food desert” is a geographical area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food. In developing their programmatic focus, the NJEDA has determined that a large portion of the City of Newark is considered a “Food Desert.” To review map of approved food deserts in Newark, and throughout New Jersey, please click here.