A new source of fresh produce is coming to Las Vegas’ Historic Westside.
Tuesday MGM Resorts International announced it is donating $500,000 to the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE and its fiscal agent, the Nevada Community Foundation, to establish a community-based urban agriculture farming facility in the neighborhood.
“The city of Las Vegas is committed to bringing unique solutions, whenever possible, to challenges that may face communities,” Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman said in a statement. “This partnership will not only revitalize a currently unused public space and transform it into a farming facility providing healthy food, but it will also serve as a model for replication in other parts of the community.”
The farming facility is the first of its kind in Las Vegas and will be situated in a neighborhood that has struggled with reliable access to healthy food. Historic Westside residents experience 25.5% food insecurity, the highest in the Las Vegas Valley.
“We are honored to join our neighbors in developing this farming facility that will have a positive and direct impact for those who are currently food insecure,” said MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle in a statement. “At MGM Resorts we take seriously our commitment to invest in our communities, and we believe that we are all better off when we unite with one another for the common good. We are grateful for the entities who together have turned this innovative idea into a reality and look forward to the produce that will be readily available for Historic Westside families and individuals to harvest in 2022.”
The Historic Westside Farming Facility will be located in James Gay Park. Funding will be used to acquire two ready-built, plug-and-play container growing facilities that are climate-controlled and can operate year-round. The output produced will be equal to nearly 3.5 acres of flat farming each, or 8 tons of produce.
Lettuce, leafy greens, herbs, vining berries and vegetables, and root vegetables are among the produce that can be grown in the containers. Harvestable crops will be ready after eight weeks after the project’s launch.
The containers are anticipated to be operational by early 2022.
