READING, PA — The Shapiro Administration, through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), has announced a $459,000 investment to support the Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank’s project to establish a new Community Kitchen in downtown Reading. This financial backing, facilitated through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), will transform a long-vacant 51,000-square-foot structure at 229 Washington Street into a hub of culinary training and food assistance.
The newly enhanced funding for the NAP, which Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 state budget doubled from $36 million to $72 million, enables initiatives like this to thrive. This expansion underscores the administration’s commitment to revitalizing communities by encouraging business contributions to nonprofit efforts, thereby strengthening the social fabric of neighborhoods across Pennsylvania.
Deputy Secretary Rick Vilello emphasized the transformative impact of the NAP: “The Neighborhood Assistance Program has an incredible impact on people’s lives and on our neighborhoods. We’re able to encourage even more investments that assist low-income Pennsylvanians and help strengthen communities across our Commonwealth.”
The Community Kitchen, once operational, will offer culinary training to individuals transitioning from incarceration or rehabilitation and those seeking new job skills. The facility will also produce frozen, ready-to-eat meals for those in need of food assistance and enable the acceptance of bulk food donations. Notably, local nonprofits, including the Reading Science Center and the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, will also utilize space within the renovated building.
Jay Worrall, President of Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank, expressed gratitude for the support: “The Helping Harvest Community Kitchen will allow us to leverage new resources in the form of donated food packaged for commercial or restaurant use, and convert it into healthy, ready-to-eat meals for our neighbors.”
State Senator Judy Schwank highlighted the program’s broader objectives: “The Neighborhood Assistance Program is all about breathing new life into underserved areas. The success of the program is why the legislature came together in this year’s budget to increase the cap on this tax credit.”
Representative Johanny Cepeda-Freyitz added, “By coming together—businesses, nonprofits, and neighbors—we can address food insecurity and build a future where every family has the opportunity to thrive.”
The Shapiro Administration’s boosted NAP funding will continue to support a myriad of community projects statewide, with a focus on enhancing underserved regions and fostering economic growth through thoughtful civic engagement.
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