By james art BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) – The city of Birmingham announced Tuesday that residents of Fountain Heights and surrounding areas will soon have an upgraded urban farm.
The city said it follows a unanimous vote and will also include a neighborhood market and community kitchen.
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According to the $150,000 agreement with Fountain Heights Cooperative LLC, the city said the organization “will install basic infrastructure, including urban water access for ten agricultural parcels, and construction of a neighborhood market and community kitchen to increase access to fresh and affordable food options for Birmingham residents by developing a versatile space serving as a neighborhood market cooperative offering affordable, high-quality food to over 3,000 residents in the Fountain Heights area; and creating economic opportunities for micro-businesses by providing affordable access to commercial kitchens to 60 food-based micro-businesses in the first year of operation.”
Fountain Heights co-founder M. Dominic Villanueva said the goal is to provide an additional 25,000 pounds of nutritious local food in the first year to more than 3,000 residents living in USDA-defined food deserts in Fountain Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. They also aim to create nine quality jobs earning at or above $20 an hour.
The city said the organization has already prepared 70,000 seedlings to be planted and harvested in the coming months.
“This organization takes great pride in our community and has helped us truly utilize this land through their hard work, sweat and dedication to providing clean, healthy food to our residents,” said Councilwoman LaTonya Tate. “I am so excited to see this expansion and what it will mean for the food insecure people in our area. All of this intersects when we talk about improving the quality of life. It starts with access to healthy foods and I just have to publicly thank Dominique and her group for all they have done.