Aldea del Rio - a development on the corner of Rio Bravo and 2nd St. in Albuquerque, NM, Bernalillo County - YES Housing, Inc. (YHI) will use $800,000 in CED funds to extend a loan to the Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network (ACN) to develop the Aldea Del Rio Food Hub (ADRFHF) in Alberqerque, New Mexico. ACN. a wholesale business that helps farmers distribute and deliver products to customers, will use loan funds to purchase equipment for the newly developed ADRFHF, an agricultural commerce center housing materials and equipment to help local farmers increase agricultural production and revenue. Specifically, CED funds will be used to purchase cold storage, conveyor wash stations, processing equipment, packing tables, and shelving to fully furnish the newly built ADRFHF. This will finalize the development of a 97-acre “agrihood” space, which will allow over 70 local farmers to prepare their products for handling and distribution at a centralized location. This space will also make it easier for community members to access fresh, local, and healthy produce, reducing transportation and logistics burden on farmers and consumers. This project will create jobs in management, finance, marketing, management, transportation, maintenance, production, and agriculture industries. These jobs will offer employees a comprehensive suite of benefits including paid time off, flexible and predictable scheduling, dental and vision insurance plans, and career growth opportunities. In addition to the benefits offered by ACN, YHI will also partner with many local organizations to offer the employees hired through this project a variety of wraparound supportive services including childcare assistance, workforce development services, behavioral health consultations, and case management services. This project will leverage over an additional $11.8 million dollars in additional funding. This project will create 29 new jobs, 22 of which will be filled by individuals with low income.
