Jones Valley Teaching Farm to Open Center for Food Education in Downtown Birmingham, AL

Local non-profit secures competitive New Markets Tax Credit for flagship community learning center

(Birmingham, AL) September 22, 2020 – Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF) is pleased to announce the groundbreaking of the Center for Food Education, a community hub to be built on JVTF’s Downtown Teaching Farm located at 701 25th Street North in Birmingham. The multi-use facility will anchor the non-profit’s work and create an inviting permanent infrastructure that will reach more students, teachers, and surrounding community members—locally, regionally, and nationally.

The project is financed, in part, with $7 million dollars in New Markets Tax Credit allocation provided by Hope Enterprise Corporation (HOPE), which closed on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, and by investor Wells Fargo Bank.

“In addition to providing world-class food-based education to students in Birmingham City Schools, the Center for Food Education is developing the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders,” said HOPE CEO Bill Bynum. “By expanding the horizon of possibilities for Birmingham’s children, the impacts of HOPE’s partnership with Jones Valley Teaching Farm will extend well into the future.”

Additional financing partners include Regions Bank and local and national donors. River Ridge Capital Advisors provided financial advisory services to Jones Valley Teaching Farm throughout the New Markets Tax Credit transaction closing process.

“Without the benefit of New Markets Tax Credits, the Center for Food Education could not move forward at this time,” said Matt Starrmann of River Ridge Capital Advisors. “We are excited to see how the new facility will transform Jones Valley Teaching Farm and its impact on Birmingham’s students and the broader community.”

Competitive in nature, the New Markets Tax Credit Program helps businesses and organizations in economically distressed communities attract private capital and investment. Historically, the program has supported a variety of businesses, and communities that receive the investment see a direct impact on job opportunities as well as greater access to facilities and services.

In keeping with Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s mission, the Center for Food Education will serve as the fundamental hub for academic exploration, personal growth, and pathways to leadership and employment through food, farming, and the culinary arts. The building will be home to daily field trips and Good School Food instruction, culinary programming, training and professional development for teachers and school administrators, as well as increased employment opportunities for graduates of Birmingham City Schools.

“Thanks to the overwhelming support, confidence, partnership, and leadership, our five-year dream to build our future—the Center for Food Education—is now a reality,” said Jones Valley Teaching Farm Executive Director Amanda Storey. “There is no doubt that 2020 is proving to be an incredibly challenging landscape, but I am uplifted by the belief and commitment from our donors, financing partners, and our community that now is the time to continue to move forward and put Birmingham, Alabama at the center of food-based education inspired by youth.”

Additional details surrounding the Center for Food Education will be announced at a later date. For more information about Jones Valley Teaching Farm, visit jvtf.org.

About Jones Valley Teaching Farm
Founded in 2007, Jones Valley Teaching Farm is a Birmingham, AL-based non-profit organization that builds vibrant, student-centered Teaching Farms that provide an environment for young people to learn, create, explore, and grow a healthy future for themselves and their community. Through its Good School Food model, full-time instructors collaborate with teachers to help pre-K through 12th grade students connect food, farming, and the culinary arts through standards-based, cross-curricular lessons during the school day. In addition to its downtown campus, Jones Valley Teaching Farm oversees six Teaching Farms located on the campuses of elementary, middle school, and high schools throughout the greater Birmingham area.