Investment will help convert old grocery store into energy efficient facility

EASTERN CHARLOTTE, N.B. – The Government of Canada, the Municipality of Eastern Charlotte and Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc. have made a joint investment of more than $737,500 to support the Village Indoor Farm & Living Lab project in Blacks Harbour.

The investment will enable the conversion of the old grocery store into a more energy efficient facility in addition to making it more accessible for citizens, states a release.

Retrofits to the building include upgrades to the HVAC and electrical systems, and windows which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 80 per cent and increase the building’s climate resilience.

The investment will help strengthen food security, create better job opportunities and will be a community hub to make fresh and healthy produce accessible.

“Mitigating the impacts of climate change requires building local community resilience,” said Briana Cowie, executive director of Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc., in a statement. 

“We are proud that our Indoor Farm and Living Lab model not only helps to address existing food security issues but is also a real example of how we can redevelop and rehabilitate older structures and models into efficient and sustainable community assets for the future.”