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Advertisement Food hub could bring fresh produce, jobs to west Louisville Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A new partnership is shedding light on the dire need for local food in three west Louisville communities and a vacant 24-acre site could be the key to linking supply and demand.There's a growing demand for local food in Louisville, but with the emergence of a West Louisville Food Hub at the site, it could strengthen production and distribution to meet demand.Mobile video“The idea of planting seeds here to bring this space and these neighborhoods back to life is certainly part of what we're excited about,” said Caroline Heine.Sitting between Market Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard on 30th Street, is a 24-acre site ready for development. Seed Capital Kentucky -- a local not-for-profit -- saw the opportunity and bought the space for $1.2 million from the city.The developer is focused on growing the local food economy and supporting regional farmers, bringing to life the food hub in the middle of a USDA-certified food desert.Food and agriculture related businesses will fill the lot, including a 70,000 square foot warehouse.The project is funded by federal tax credits and several foundations, including government grants and private funds totaling more than $4 million, but more importantly, sustainability is a big factor for the project. “About 250 jobs and 170 of them are new jobs, and the exciting thing is that they'll be available to people in these neighborhoods,” said Heine.Bill Jones has owned and operated Dad's Muffler Shop since 1973.“Whenever you have vacant land like that and land in disrepair, it hurts business,” said Jones.Jones believes since National Tobacco left the site, development is exactly what the space needed.“Nothing builds business like more business, so if you want more business in the west end, move more businesses in,” said Jones.Developers said crews should start breaking ground by next year.Stores should be up and ready for business by 2016.