COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Mid-Ohio Food Collective announced that it is partnering with the City of Columbus to transform the vacant Eastland shopping plaza into a hub providing resources for the neighborhood.
Mayor Andrew Ginther and Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin announced on Wednesday that the city will invest $4 million into the Eastland Prosperity Center.
The 67,000-square-foot center will offer a free food market, a community health center, city programs and other resources to residents in southeast Columbus.
“Hunger remains at record levels across many communities and our data shows the Eastland area has the greatest unmet need in all of central Ohio,” said Mid-Ohio Food Collective President and CEO Matt Habash. “This support from the City of Columbus supports the grand vision of the Eastland Prosperity Center to improve the well-being of families across our region.”
The center is expected to serve more than 100,000 people from across the region each year, according to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
“The City of Columbus knows that an equitable city is built from safe, vibrant neighborhoods where every family has the ability to thrive,” Ginther said. “The Eastland Prosperity Center will help transform the area from a human services desert into a healthier community with opportunity for all.”
Construction for the center, which is scheduled to start in early 2025, will cost an estimated $13.5 million. The center is expected to open in 2026.
The $4 million from the city will come from the capital budget and proposed Community Development Block Grant funding. The rest will be funded with public, private and philanthropic dollars.
The city says it’s planning to establish other services at the center, including a WIC center, the Far East Neighborhood Pride Center and CelebrateOne programs to reduce infant mortality.
