Governor Hochul Announces $10.7 Million Award for New Food Bank Facility in the Hudson Valley

 

40,000-Square-Foot Distribution Warehouse for the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley to be Constructed in the Town of Montgomery

Larger Facility with Additional Capacity for Cold Storage and Sorting will Benefit More than 179,000 People Throughout the Lower Hudson Valley

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a $10.7 million award to construct a new food distribution warehouse for the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley in the Orange County town of Montgomery. The increased demand for emergency food assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a larger facility with additional capacity for cold storage and sorting. The new 40,000-square-foot warehouse is expected to benefit 179,000 low- to moderate-income New Yorkers currently receiving assistance from Hudson Valley food banks.

 “The ongoing financial impact of the pandemic has left more New Yorkers to rely on their local food pantries to feed their families,” Governor Hochul said. “New York is committed to addressing food insecurity and combatting hunger in our communities, and this new larger facility will strengthen our emergency food network in the Hudson Valley and help more residents in need.” 

The award to the Town of Montgomery was made through the Community Development Block Grant CARES program administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for food assistance across the Hudson Valley Region grew substantially and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley outgrew its current facility.

The new distribution warehouse will provide increased capacity to obtain, store, and distribute food donations to 400 member agencies in six counties in the lower Hudson Valley: Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan, and Putnam Counties. It is estimated that nearly 179,000 low- to moderate-income New Yorkers in the Hudson Valley are currently receiving food assistance.

The expanded facility will also give volunteers and staff sufficient space to gather safely to assist preparing food for recipients, preventing the further spread of COVID-19.

Additional funding for the project includes a $1.9 million contribution from the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley and nearly $800,000 in private donations. 

The federal Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funding was allocated to States to support community projects that address pandemic-related health and safety issues and improve public services.