Food hub to launch at Worcester's Union Station in June
The Worcester Regional Food Hub will move into and begin operations at its new Union Station headquarters in June, according to director Shon Rainford.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the headquarters' grand opening will be held on Friday, May 23, he told MassLive on Monday.
The Food Hub's headquarters will feature five commercial kitchens and state-of-the-art amenities for food businesses, the director said. The new space will also increase the hub's capacity to distribute food from local farmers to school children, hospitals, colleges, food pantries and markets throughout Massachusetts.
The Food Hub will move to Union Station from the Greendale People's Church, where they have stayed for six and a half years, said Rainford.
'We are extremely excited to be opening this new food production and distribution facility which will provide opportunity for so many in Worcester and throughout Massachusetts,' Rainford said. 'This would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts in both the private and public sectors. We want to thank our friends at the Greendale People's Church for providing us a home for the past six and a half years.'
The headquarters will be open to members 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, Rainford said.
Launched in 2015, Worcester Regional Food Hub's mission is to increase local food access throughout Worcester County by connecting local farmers and entrepreneurs to schools and other markets while giving businesses kitchen space to prepare food.
A total of $4.5 million for the headquarters construction was announced in 2022 and is funded by congressional earmarks, state grants, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), MassDevelopment's Collaborative Workspace Program, and the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts.
Construction on the headquarters began in 2024.
Man barricaded inside Worcester home prompts police response
Worcester councilor slams ICE protesters, says they should have helped children
Late home run lifts Buffalo past Worcester Red Sox
Read the original article on MassLive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Business Solutions Center to help small businesses launched
( — The new resource hub, Business Solution Center, was launched by the City of Sacramento in an effort to help local small businesses succeed. Video Above: Local business in Old Sacramento focused on Eco-Friendly products Officials said the City's Office of Innovation and Economic Development developed the hub, while the American Rescue Plan Act and the U.S. Small Business Administration funded it. The Business Solutions Center aims to unite multiple small business services into a 'single, streamlined program.' The hub offers personalized, one-on-one support for entrepreneurs who want to build a business plan, expand operations or navigate permitting and licensing. 'We know small businesses are the backbone of Sacramento's economy, and the Business Solutions Center is about meeting them where they are with the support they need to succeed,' said Denise Malvetti, Deputy Director of the Office of Innovation and Economic Development. 'Whether it's funding, permits, or someone to help navigate your next steps, this Center puts real, tangible resources within reach.' 13th measles case of 2025 in the state confirmed in Woodland The center helps business access: Up to $5,000 in microgrant funding to invest in equipment. One-on-one consultations with counselors in partnership with California Capital Financial Development Corporation. Up to $2,500 in city fee credits to help cover permitting, licensing or inspection costs SizeUp Sacramento: a data tool offering insights on business performance, competitors and customers 'From day one, we've designed the Business Solutions Center with equity, accessibility, and long-term impact in mind,' Malvetti said. 'This isn't just about recovery—it's about building a stronger, more inclusive local economy for years to come.' Officials said the center was built with an emphasis on 'equity, accountability, and measurable results.' The city is able to evaluate the program's impact through a customer relationship management system that tracks service requests. Based on the evolving needs of Sacramento's business community, adjustments are made. Those who want to participate can: Visit the 311 portal and register for an account. Add your business to your 311 account Submit a 'Business Resources' request through the dashboard Officials said those who already have a 311 account can: Login and select 'My Profile' Then click on 'Add Business' Select 'Request Service' and make sure to click the 'Business Case' request. More information can be found on the city's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fiscal Court approves tornado cleanup oversight, several new hires
At its regular meeting Thursday morning, the Laurel County Fiscal Court approved several items related to tornado recovery and county operations for the upcoming fiscal year. Judge-Executive David Westerfield received approval to bring in DRC Emergency Services to oversee remaining tornado debris cleanup through local subcontractors. He was also authorized to hire a company to handle FEMA documentation related to the cleanup, as well as a monitoring company to meet FEMA requirements for debris removal tracking. As for personnel matters, multiple new hires were approved. Jordan Dalrymple, who will serve as retirement clerk, will enter her role on June 16. Dalrymple will earn $21 per hour for the position. Following the retirement of two road department employees, the department saw two new hires — William Antrim and Billy Goforth. Antrim will earn $15 per hour, whereas Goforth will make $14 an hour due to not having his CDL (commercial driver's license). Further, six temporary employees will be hired to haul debris, each earning $30 an hour. In new business, the court approved bids for materials to be used during the 2025–2026 fiscal year. During the county treasurer's report, several transfers and approvals were made, including: — Approval of May claims with no discussion. — An intra-fund transfer, also approved without discussion. — The adoption of standing orders for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. — The closure of the county's ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) account after funds were fully allocated and spent. The cash transfer report included $500,000 from the occupational tax fund to the road fund, $299,848.67 from the ARPA fund to general fund, and $800,000 from the occupational tax fund to general fund. Judge Westerfield closed Thursday's meeting by thanking those involved with tornado relief efforts. 'I just appreciate everybody in the county for pulling together and trying to help these people,' Westerfield stated. The Laurel County Fiscal Court regularly meets at 8:45 a.m. on the second Monday and 9:30 a.m. on the final Thursday of each month. The fiscal court's next meeting will take place Monday, June 9.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Portland breaks ground on new Kiwanis Pool expected to open in 2026
Jun. 6—The city of Portland broke ground on the construction of a new Kiwanis Pool on Thursday. Replacing the 60-year-old pool, the new facility will include a splash pad, waterslides, a lawn area, ADA accessible pool entry and lap lanes. The new pool will accommodate up to 400 swimmers at a time, about four times its previous capacity, according to a press release from the city. The updates to the Kiwanis pool, which first opened in 1961, have been in the works since 2019. But last August, when the pool closed for construction, the city was still short more than $5 million in funding needed to complete the project, a gap the city attributed to rising material costs. In the fall the City Council voted unanimously to allocate $4.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to the project to help fill that gap. Since then, the Portland Parks Conservancy has been raising money to come up with the remaining funds. The new pool is expected to be complete by summer 2026. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
