GOVERNMENT RELATIONS CASE STUDY
Hunts Point Produce Market
CLIENT BACKGROUND
Understand The Need
The Hunt Point Produce Market provides 60% of New York City’s produce and is responsible for over 10,000 jobs.
Moving over 210 million packages of produce a year, it is truly the lifeblood of food distribution throughout NYC and the greater region.
ISSUES & CHALLENGES
working with the Federal, State & City levels of Government
Massive Upgrades Were Needed
In need of a major redevelopment and energy upgrades, The Hunts Point Market turned to DHC Government Relations Group to find innovative ways to finance a once in a generation project.
Assessing Funding Paths
DHC’s City, State and Federal government relations teams had been pursuing a strategic plan targeting federal, state and city funding.
“DHC’s tireless effort, along with the support of the New York City Congressional Delegation, were rewarded on October 5th, 2022, when it was announced that the Hunts Point Produce Market was selected for a $110 Million U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant.
In total, we were able to secure $380 million in funding from city, state and federal governments and agencies.”
Sid Davidoff, firm Founder & Chair of the Government Relations Practice
SOLUTIONS
Developing a Plan
01
Making Connections
Work with the Mayor’s office, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
02
Orchestrating Requests
DHC’s New York City Government Relations group worked with the City which resulted in a high priority request to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a major grant.
03
Working the Hill
DHC’s Federal Government Relations group met with Senate Majority Leader Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Congressman Ritchie Torres and the New York City Congressional Delegation to advocate for the grant for the Hunts Point Produce Market.
RESULTS
What We Achieved
1. Secured a $110 million U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant, which will be used to upgrade and modernize the Produce Market’s facilities, providing critical freight movement, and improving the environment and public health.
2. Secured $140 million in funding to update the market’s aging infrastructure and for the surrounding south Bronx neighborhood from NYC Mayor Eric Adams through his “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery” plan.
3. Secured a significant $130 million commitment from the NYS Assembly that the state legislature approved in its Summary of the Recommended Changes to the Executive Budget April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.
4. With $380 million in funding currently in place, the new produce market will be approximately a 1 million square-feet, state-of-the-art intermodal facility with approximately 824,600 square feet of refrigerated warehouse space. The revitalization of the market will support food infrastructure while also creating new union jobs, reducing emissions, and increasing food security. HPPM will also be able to establish truck and auto charging stations and install solar panels or a green roof.
