Charter One has launched a new program called Growing Communities that is focused on helping grow emerging food industry in Detroit. Kicking off this program is a $100,000 grant from the bank to Eastern Market.
"We wanted to make an impact on neighborhood revitalization by increasing access to nutritious food and helping grow local businesses," says Beth Dryden, director of public affairs for
Charter One.
Growing Communities is meant to strengthen local food systems in Detroit by promoting the development of small food-related businesses, increasing access to nutritious food and assisting with neighborhood revitalization. Charter One, a subsidiary of
Citizen Financial Group, is working to make this happen by partnering with
Eastern Market Corp, Henry Ford Health System, Michigan State University Product Center, the Garden Resource Collaborative, and the Detroit Community Market Network.
Of the $100,000, $30,000 will go toward grants to provide vendors currently operating at Eastern Market with opportunities to increase outreach, such as improving signage and custom stands. Another $20,000 will be for grants to provide graduates of urban farmer training programs with the tools needed to launch small businesses, including land or otherwise improve the production or marketing of products. Half of the $100,000 will be dedicated to grants that will expand the reach of the nine farmers’ markets of the Detroit Community Market Network by providing community outreach efforts and shuttle services designed to increase access to the markets.
"We see this as an opportunity to work with the market, its vendors and customers," Dryden says.
Source: Beth Dryden, director of public affairs for Charter One
Writer: Jon Zemke
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