The City of Owensboro is proposing an additional $400,000 in funding for a regional refrigerated food warehouse project. If approved, it would bring the City’s total contribution to $500,000.
The proposed funding is included in a year-end budget amendment for the current fiscal year, which received a first reading during Tuesday’s City Commission meeting. City Manager Nate Pagan said the amendment is part of a routine process to reconcile grant revenue and other previously approved expenditures, but noted the additional allocation to the warehouse as a standout item.
“We previously appropriated $100,000 for the refrigerated food warehouse project, but after recent discussion, it was clear that the consensus of the commission wanted to make a larger contribution,” Pagan said.
The Green River Community Food Warehouse (GRCFW) is leading the charge to construct a temperature-controlled warehouse capable of storing large quantities of donated food — an effort they say will significantly improve access to fresh and nutritious meals for those in need.
According to Feeding America, more than 15,000 individuals in Owensboro and Daviess County struggle with food insecurity, equating to nearly 1.4 million meals needed per month to meet the demand. Steve Innes, a founding member of GRCFW, previously said the issue isn’t necessarily a lack of available food but rather an infrastructure problem.
“On behalf of our team, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you for your support. We still have a long way to go,” Innes said Tuesday. “However, once operational, we’re committed to providing an incremental 215,000 meal equivalents and feeding an incremental 2,400 food-insecure people, above and beyond what is currently available today.”
Innes also offered special thanks to Mayor Tom Watson for his early backing of the initiative.
“Mayor Watson, I want to say a special thank you to you,” he said. “You were the first individual out of either the public or private sector that stood up in a meaningful way, supported this project. It wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without you.”
The proposed 20,000-square-foot facility would include refrigeration and freezer storage for proteins and fresh produce, as well as dry storage space. At full capacity, it could accommodate up to 20 truckloads of food per month, significantly increasing the amount of donated food available to local food pantries and meal programs.
The warehouse will operate as a distribution hub rather than a direct-to-consumer food bank. It will provide food at no cost to local pantries, eliminating the logistical hurdles many small organizations face when trying to accept large donations.
GRCFW is in partnership discussions with Tri-State Food Bank, the regional Feeding America affiliate, with hopes that Tri-State will eventually take over warehouse operations. However, there are still challenges to navigate. Many local food pantries do not meet Feeding America’s operational standards, which means they do not currently receive food from Tri-State. The goal, Innes said, is to serve all pantries and kitchens, regardless of their affiliation.
Innes previously said building the warehouse will require a total investment of $4.35 million, which includes construction costs, refrigeration equipment, and three years of operating expenses to ensure sustainability.
For a more in-depth look at the proposed warehouse, read our previous reporting here.
A second reading and final vote on the City’s ordinance that includes additional funding is expected at the next Commission meeting.
