West Texas Food Bank Midland Community and Volunteer Center*
Midland, TX
For over 30 years, the West Texas Food Bank (WTFB) has been West Texas’ central collector and distributor of reliable, affordable food for people seeking relief from hunger. Working as partners with 75 non-profits, the WTFB provides meals to more than 44,000 clients annually in their 19-county footprint covering 34,000 square miles.
The new New Market Tax Credit-financed WTFB Midland Community and Volunteer Center allows more efficient food distribution and the opportunity to teach clients about appropriate nutrition and healthy food alternatives. The Center, with 11,150 square feet of interior space, and 7,000 feet of outdoor learning and gardening space, serves as the primary volunteer activity and program innovation center for the WTFB. The Center provides a demonstration kitchen, a client choice pantry, a community and training room, additional storage and processing capacity, a playground, and an outdoor learning space, which includes both earth-bermed and traditional greenhouses. The client choice pantry serves as a free “grocery store” for first-time clients. The history and culture of the area are integrated into the learning process with the Hunger Alleviating Trail, the outdoor learning space featuring native, edible plants and other plants that can thrive in West Texas’ arid climate. It serves as a meeting place for youth groups and others to learn how to grow desert gardens and prepare healthy foods. The new facility also allows volunteers much-needed space to meet and work, providing the Food Bank’s programs with significant hours of volunteer labor.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Quick Facts
Total Investment: $6,935,000
Square Footage: 11,150 Square feet
Developer: West Texas Food Bank
Owner: WTFB Mid County
Allocatee: MBS-UI Sub-CDE XXIX, LLC; Co-Allocatee: USBCDE Sub-CDE 157, LLC
NMTC Equity Investor: U.S. Bank CDC
Architect: Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc.
Construction Jobs: 201
Projected Permanent Jobs: 5
Additional Volunteers: 1000
Community Partner(s): The West Texas Food Bank works in partnership with over 75 West Texas hunger relief organizations. The Partner Network includes food pantries, community kitchens, emergency organizations, shelters, residential centers, rehabilitation centers, and senior and youth centers.