Allegheny County – May 16, 2025 – Today, Senator Wayne Fontana announced nearly $200,000 in grants to connect low-income communities with fresh, healthy, and affordable local food in the 42ndsenatorial district.
“These grants to businesses that do such important work in my district will make a huge difference in our community,” said Senator Fontana. “With Washington, DC cutting off federal funding for fresh food and food bank programs, I am proud that Pennsylvania is stepping up to ensure our neighbors are not going hungry, while helping our family farmers.”
The Fresh Food Financing Initiative grants are administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to strengthen local food systems and to increase market opportunities for Pennsylvania farmers.
Two businesses in the 42nd District were awarded grants:
Community Kitchen Pittsburgh was awarded $100,000 for their project, Community Kitchen Pittsburgh Addressing Food Access through a Sustainable Community Model. Community Kitchen Pittsburgh will relocate to a 20,000-square-foot facility Uptown to address food insecurity and unemployment through its social enterprise model. The new site will house a healthy food market offering fresh, locally sourced produce, meats, and dairy, alongside a catering business, food truck, and expanded kitchen, while providing job training and transitional employment for residents.
Mayfly at the Garden was awarded $99,563 towards relocating to a larger, more accessible 3,000 square foot space in the historic Garden Theater building, allowing for expanded retail freezer and refrigeration space. Mayfly Market, a woman-owned business on the North Side, will be able to expand its offerings and further support the local agriculture economy, while serving the surrounding BIPOC and low-income community.
Overall, the PA Department of Agriculture awarded $3.4 million to businesses in 23 counties. For a complete list of awardees and for more information on the department, visit the Department of Agriculture’s website.
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