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Legislature approves grant agreement to support Electric City Food Cooperative grocery in downtown Schenectady
Summary
The county approved a grant agreement enabling Electric City Food Cooperative to open a downtown grocery; the project includes state and federal grants and a $3,000,000 county contribution; two legislators abstained due to conflicts of interest.
The Schenectady County Legislature on Jan. 13 authorized the County Manager to enter into a grant agreement with Electric City Food Cooperative Inc. to support a community grocery in downtown Schenectady.
Eric Johnson, representing the Electric City Community Grocery, told the body the cooperative has 1,350 members and described the project’s funding package: a $2,100,000 award from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, a $150,000 USDA grant, and $1,300,000 raised privately. He said the cooperative signed a 20‑year lease for a downtown site and noted Metroplex’s work on parking remediation to create 216 parking spaces nearby.
During the roll call, the clerk recorded 12 ayes, one absent and two abstentions; one abstention was declared by a legislator who said she was a member of the Electric City Food Co‑op. Legislator Hughes explained the county’s contribution, saying “The county's contribution is $3,000,000,” and voted in favor. The resolution passed.
The measure authorizes the county manager to execute the grant agreement; it does not itself appropriate the full project budget, which proponents said is a mix of state, federal and private funds. A legislator who abstained cited membership in the co‑op as the reason for the abstention. County staff and proponents said they will provide implementation details and parking support through Metroplex as the project proceeds.
