Harry Chapin Food Bank*
Fort Myers, FL
Founded in 1983, Harry Chapin Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief nonprofit and the only Feeding America member in Southwest Florida. In addition to serving clients directly, the Food Bank works with a network of more than 170 partner agencies to serve people experiencing food insecurity and plays a vital role in responding to natural disasters by providing food to impacted children, families, and seniors. The Food Bank’s prior facility only had three loading docks, not enough refrigeration space and was not built to withstand hurricanes – a new solution was needed.
MBS Urban Initiative’s $8.25 million NMTC investment is financing the construction of an approximately 98,000 SF warehouse and distribution center that will expand Harry Chapin Food Bank’s ability to provide access to healthy foods, nutrition education, and wraparound services. The new facility will be Hurricane-resistant and include floodproofing and back-up generators to ensure the building can withstand up to Category 5 hurricanes.
The expanded Food Bank will provide services to 250,000 people annually across 5 counties in Southwest Florida. This includes over 29 million meals and over 35 million pounds of food distributed, 35% of which will be fresh. In addition, the Food Bank will work with residents of the neighboring Choice Neighborhood for workforce training opportunities, in addition to providing food and services.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Quick Facts
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Square Footage: 98,000 sq ft
Total Development Cost: $47,534,298
MBS UI NMTC Allocation: $8,250,000
QALICB: HCFB Holding Company Inc.
Allocatees: MBS Urban Initiatives CDE, Florida Community Loan Fund, CAHEC, NIF, Truist
NMTC Equity Investor: Truist
Architect: Ryan
Direct and Leverage Lender: Truist, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Inc.
Projected construction Jobs: 162
Projected permanent jobs: 118