11/16/2012
Citizens Bank Foundation provides $10,000 grant to Hannah Grimes Center of Keene to support local food producers
Manchester, NH - (November 16, 2012) – The Citizens Bank Foundation announced it has provided a $10,000 grant to the Hannah Grimes Center in Keene, N.H., to establish its Keene Hub Food Systems Initiative. The Hannah Grimes Center will work with Neighbor Made Kitchen, Hannah Grimes Marketplace and Cheshire County Conservation District to strengthen and support the area’s growing regional food system. It will help improve farm income, create jobs in the food production industry, and stimulate economic productivity and food self-sufficiency in the region.
“Over the years, Hannah Grimes has developed a broad range of programs that work one-on-one as well as on the community level to break down barriers to entering and succeeding in business,” said Mary Ann Kristiansen, executive director of Hannah Grimes Center. “This program will focus specifically on helping businesses in the farm and food production industry start and grow. Working with our partners, we aim to help these businesses increase profitability and improve production and distribution.”
The Hannah Grimes Center provides a comprehensive set of programs and community projects that support and create infrastructure for small businesses, farmers, craftspeople and consumers to create a thriving local economy and vibrant community woven together by commerce and culture.
“The Keene Hub Food Systems Initiative will help stimulate the economy by creating jobs and providing residents with access to healthy food grown locally,” said Joe Carelli, president, Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens, New Hampshire. “We believe in contributing to the health of our local communities. A stronger community food system will enhance the region’s economic, environmental and nutritional health.”
The Hannah Grimes Center also offers a wide range of business development programs, including a business incubator program through the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship; organizational development programs and supportive small-space offices for nonprofit organizations through the Hannah Grimes Center for Nonprofits; and the Hannah Grimes Marketplace, a dynamic retail store with an exclusive focus on local products to help build local businesses and connect those businesses to regional consumers.
About the Citizens Bank Foundation
Citizens Bank Foundation is a subsidiary of the Citizens Charitable Foundation, which is a charitable contributions vehicle of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc., RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The foundation’s support is focused on human services, affordable housing and economic development. RBSCFG’s website is citizensbank.com.
