Published in the Local Foods Action Plan Lewiston Auburn
Written by Susan Cover
LEWISTON — Supporters of a new Lewiston Auburn Community Market recently launched a campaign to raise $400,000 to tear down the former police station to make way for an international food hub.
The Cooperative Development Institute is working with local stakeholders on the $10 million project to create a year-round center to support local farmers, increase food access, offer job training and revitalize an important part of Lewiston’s downtown.
But before they can build the center, they need to raise enough money to demolish the former police station near Kennedy Park.
Beckie Conrad of RSC Consulting, a technical adviser for the project, said the 20,000 square foot building will have a grocery store run by a cooperative and six professional kitchens for workforce development and for those looking to create new products.
Outside, there will be space for food trucks and storage for local farm food.
Conrad said the city agreed to sell the former police station — which will be returned to the tax rolls once the cooperative opens — for $2,000 with a closing date set for December. In the meantime, they are working to raise the money needed for demolition.
“Reactivating this site should have some community input,” Conrad said. “So in order to both help with the demolition, which is about $400,000 and grow community support for the project and awareness, we are doing the GoFundMe.”
Plans are underway to build a new Lewiston Auburn Community Market at the site of the former police station in Lewiston. (Lewiston Auburn Community Market rendering)
Palmira de Carvalho serves as vice-president of the Lewiston Auburn Community Market cooperative and says the new center will help immigrants find the ingredients they need to prepare familiar foods. (Spectrum News/Susan Cover)
Palmira de Carvalho, vice president of the market cooperative, said one goal is to help everyone find the ingredients they need to prepare food from their native countries.
“The thing we most want is to find products that different communities need to make food of our origins, the immigrants,” she said.
Conrad said the former police station is part of the tree street neighborhood, which features several multifamily housing units. It is also part of the downtown.
“Folks should know this is a dream come true for our community,” she said.
Planning has been underway for several years and most of the pieces of the $10 million funding puzzle are in place.
“This is really the culmination of the community saying we want to support our neighbors and our friends to have local fresh access to good food at affordable prices,” Conrad said. “We know that every culture brings wonderful food items.”
To donate, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-LACM.