Governor Coumo Launches "FreshConnect" Business Creation Program: Grants Available

The following was sent by Governor Cuomo’s' office. It relates to the launching of the "FreshConnect " program. For anyone who has been following news related to the Fresh Direct Deal, please note the subsidies and credits received by Fresh Direct, also help UPSTATE FARMERS SELL THEIR PRODUCTS. It is not just about the jobs in the Bronx but also increasing availability of food produced by upstate farmers to the Hunts Point Market and consumers Fresh Direct delivers to. The post below will help show what the Governor and his administration are up to, and how they plan on connecting the farmers and producers in upstate NY with consumers in NYC.

If you’re a food based small business, please note the grants information included in the e-mail sent below. Please note the deadlines listed.

Gregory

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“We must ensure that all of our citizens have access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food, and nothing better fits the bill than the items grown right here in our state by New York’s farmers.”

- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor Cuomo launched the FreshConnect program last year to create new farmers' markets and provide support to existing ones. In addition to providing farmers a consumer outlet, the FreshConnect program helped create local jobs for youth in urban areas and facilitated an increase in the sale of locally-grown food.

After the success of last year's program, the initiative is now expanding to include not just farmers' markets, but other innovative projects that connect underserved communities with New York farm products. Click here to learn more.

Potential expansion projects include:

• programs to increase access to farm products at food pantries
• delivery programs that send farm goods to areas in need
• programs for low-income individuals to access food directly from a farm
• new farmers' markets that are located in underseved neighborhoods
• satellite markets that purchase produce from an existing market and resell it in an area that cannot support its own market

Grants for potential FreshConnect projects will be awarded on a competitive basis and can be applied for here before April 2, 2012.

The FreshConnect program is helping to bridge the gap between farmers and underserved consumers, while creating local jobs and meeting the needs of all New Yorkers.

Together, we are building a new New York.

"Battle for Brooklyn" to be shown at the Bronx Documentary Center

Even though I have clearly voiced my opinion in favor of Fresh Direct coming to the Bronx, here is a post related to an event organized by "South Bronx Unite Stop Fresh Direct", "Friends of Brook Park" and "Development Don't Destroy Brooklyn". The organizations have joined forces to show a documentary related to "developer abuse" in BROOKLYN. I assume the documentary deals with the use of eminent domain to confiscate private property so public or private development can take place? I don't see the connection since I do believe eminent domain was NOT used in the Fresh Direct Deal. I doubt there even changing the zoning. Where I see Fresh Direct bringing jobs, commerce and a fleet of ELECTRONIC ZERO EMISSION TRUCKS to an industrial zone that sees an estimated 85,000 fuel burning trucks per day, they have a vision for a park with a bicycle bridge connecting to Randals Island. I am sure the event will be passionate and informative. Let the debate begin!!! The more information the public has, the better.

Gregory

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Join South Bronx Unite Stop Fresh Direct; Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn; and Good Jobs New York for a screening of the award-winning documentary Battle for Brooklyn at Bronx Documentary Center.

Thursday, March 8 at 7:00pm
614 Courtlandt Avenue (@ 151st St.)
Bronx, New York 10451
(close to the 2 or 5 train at 3rd Avenue—149th)

Battle for Brooklyn (93 minutes) follows the story of reluctant activist Daniel Goldstein as he struggles to save his home and community from being demolished to make way for a professional basketball arena and the densest real estate development in U.S. history.

The film will be followed by a Q&A featuring the filmmakers; Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn’s Daniel Goldstein; Good Jobs New York’s Bettina Damiani; and South Bronx Unite Stop Fresh Direct. The discussion will explore how mega economic development deals that seem isolated are connected by grassroots struggles that affect us all. Panelists will discuss the seven-year battle over Forest City Ratner’s eminent domain abuse at Atlantic yards and the current burgeoning struggle against the city’s proposal to help move FreshDirect, the online grocer, from Queens to the Bronx waterfront, where activists have long been trying to establish a greenway. Both are campaigns against destructive, undemocratic, and publicly subsidized land deals bolstered by spurious promises of jobs that, as “Battle for Brooklyn” proves, never seem to materialize.

LIU STATEMENT ON EDC’S $100 MILLION SUBSIDY TO FRESH DIRECT

I often enjoy and praise our Comptrollers positions. I also firmly believe he has been maligned in the press due to his pit bull stance in reviewing vendor contracts, protecting our tax dollars, protecting worker rights and much more.

I do however strongly disagree with him on his stance related to his opposition to Fresh Direct. Besides New Jersey courting the various markets in the Bronx, Fresh Direct is a perfect match for the Hunts Point Area. ALL the businesses I spoke to in Hunts Point are excited about the introduction of Fresh Direct. Due to the business mix in Hunts Point, the synergy will be fantastic for the entire Hunts Point community. Besides the electronic trucks to be purchased by Fresh Direct from Hunts Point Based Smith Electric, besides the increase in business for all our world class markets in the Hunts Point, Fresh Direct will secure jobs for Bronx residents as well as creating new ones. It is not just the jobs created, but the tens of thousands of jobs to be saved by making sure all the markets stay in the Bronx. With all the billions given to other boroughs it’s about time the Bronx is getting something besides funding to build homeless shelters.

Gregory

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NEW YORK, NY – City Comptroller John C. Liu statement in response to questions on the Industrial Development Agency’s vote to approve a major subsidy for Fresh Direct:

“Today’s $100 million subsidy to Fresh Direct was already a done deal from the moment it was announced last week and the reality is that my vote today does not change the outcome. Nonetheless, I cannot vote for this subsidy in good conscience. There may be more ways to ensure a better return on this investment.

“For the cost of this benefits package the city could give 4,385 students full, four-year scholarships to CUNY or hire 1,458 new teachers or pay for 350,000 GED test-prep programs or launch a micro-lending program for minority and women entrepreneurs.

“The EDC has not clearly justified why this much money should be used to subsidize this company. This subsidy seems to give away too much in exchange for the jobs and economic development it promises, despite the rosy numbers provided by the EDC.

“A few months ago, the EDC attracted a world-class university by promising $100 million in capital for a project that by their own estimate will generate 30,000 jobs. Now the EDC is giving close to $100 million to create 962 jobs. The cost to the City is $93,000 for each new job.

“Fresh Direct does appear to have support from elected officials, labor leaders, and the workers and we understand and concur with the sentiment that to keep jobs in New York City and create jobs in the Bronx are high-priority objectives.

“This agreement comes on the heels of the city’s decision to have taxpayers fund the estimated $180 million Ferry Point golf course. That the Fresh Direct deal was announced before the public even had a chance to comment is symptomatic of this badly flawed process.”