Imperial Valley Food Bank
Imperial, California (Imperial County)
New, expanded food bank that increases food distribution by 50% to fight food insecurity among Imperial Valley’s most at risk children and families and supports 22,000 individuals monthly.
The Project
Since 1991, Imperial Valley Food Bank (IVFB) has been at the forefront of Imperial County’s efforts to ensure that all County individuals receive nutritious foods essential to sustain basic human needs and education to improve their quality of life. However, IVFB’s facility had become obsolete, unable to keep pace with the county’s growing food bank needs, and new food safety regulations were making their facility non-compliant.
Using NMTC’s, IVFB constructed a new 28,000 SF facility that allows them to continue meeting the needs of a community where 17% of residents and 33% of children are food insecure. This new capacity is increasing the number of people served by over 20%, volume of food distributed by 50%, and nutrition education by 75%.
The modern, accessible, and comprehensive replacement facility includes efficient loading docks, expanded freezer and food storage space to ensure food safety, education and gardening areas, and a new teaching kitchen, all able to support over 22,000 individuals monthly.
From the new facility, IVFB is also able to support over 100 local agencies, operate a mobile food pantry (serving 8 rural communities), and serve as a designated disaster food storage facility in case of a small or large disaster in Imperial County.
Community Impact
- 500,000-600,000 lbs. of food distributed every month.
- Greater than 22,000 individuals served monthly.
- Create/retain 17 jobs with comprehensive benefits and support for over 120 volunteers. Create 31 construction jobs.
- Teaching Kitchen which includes weekly classes to increase healthy eating for 2,000-4,000 residents annually.
- 700 children receiving food backpacks every week (23,000 backpacks/year).
Financing
- Total Project Costs: $6.9 million
- Total New Markets Allocation Secured: $6.5 million
Project Partners
- Raza Development Fund (debt and NMTC allocation)
- Chase Community Equity
- Imperial Valley Food Bank
