The Butler Area School District is receiving more state grant help with funding a unique market at one of their downtown schools.
The district will receive $50,000 through the PA Farm Bill’s Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program toward creating a market at Broad Street Elementary School.
This funding will help pay for a secure outside entrance, refrigeration units, merchandisers, and shelving units to display products. Students will assist in running and operations of the market; providing a place for local residents to come and shop in what is a food desert in that area.
“As we know investing in urban agriculture is investing in people and communities. Often times our urban farms begin because of food disparities within a community, these folks are filling a need both for nutrition, but they’re also building capacity in these communities as well,” PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said.
Administrators plan on offering produce and other agricultural products at the market in Broad Street. Last September, Butler was a recipient of a $70,000 Remake Learning grant towards this initiative.
According to Superintendent Dr. Brian White, the market should open by the end of this school year or sometime at the beginning of next school year but much depends on supply chain issues.