Waco, TX – Central Texas Food Bank was founded in 1981 with a mission to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger. The Food Bank has grown to serve 21 counties (15 rural) across Texas, covering 19,000 square miles. The organization strives to provide Central Texans with immediate access to nutritious food and empower them with the resources and knowledge necessary to access food independently. Through a combination of direct-service programs and a network of approximately 240 nonprofit community partners, CTFB supports over 530,000 food-insecure individuals annually. The Waco facility will accommodate needs for the region much faster and more efficiently than before given the nearest food bank is 2 hours away.
Rural Development Partners awarded $18 million in New Markets Tax Credit financing to Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) for the expansion of a 65,000 square foot facility strategically located in Waco, Texas. The new facility will serve nine of CTFB’s most food insecure counties, five of which are rural. The investment will create/retain 171 FTE jobs (28 new) and 59 construction jobs while allowing more of the Food Bank’s capital for vital operations.
Strategy for New Food Bank
The new facility is designed to meet the needs of Waco and the surrounding area’s growing population and need for accessible, nutritious food. Amenities will provide improved services to partner agencies and distribution sites, accommodate workforce development opportunities, and serve as a community resource providing wrap-around services imperative in a high-need region. Amenity features include:
- Food Bank & Warehouse for dry, refrigerated and frozen foods – allowing for rapid inspection, sorting, distribution and cross-docking.
- Resource Center, including a market-style onsite pantry offering emergency food and private office space for a Benefits and Emergency Services team to provide individualized assistance to those seeking government benefits, as well as nutrition-education.
- Commercial Kitchen for preparation of fresh, nutritious meals for children and older adults, as well as additional training space to extend CTFB’s Culinary Training program; a 12- week course preparing community members for careers in the hospitality industry.
- Volunteer Engagement, providing community members with an inviting and fun atmosphere to assist their neighbors in an organized manner as well as increase CTFB’s ability to reclaim food from retail and other sources within the region.
- Garden to grow, harvest, prepare and distribute fresh food to the community.
CTFB will reserve approximately 200,000 square feet of additional land for future expansion.
“We are excited to partner with RDP to serve rural communities in the nine northern counties of our service area through this New Markets Tax Credit,” said Sari M. Vatske, Central Texas Food Bank President + CEO. “RDP’s partnership is a testament to the strength of the Central Texas Food Bank, its team and the project, as loans such as these are highly competitive. Together, we will improve lives of Central Texans ensuring more direct access to nutritious food and other services for neighbors in McLennan and surrounding counties.”
The Waco Facility: Coming 2026
To better serve our Waco-area neighbors, the new facility is designed to increase our capacity to distribute fresh, nutritious food more quickly and efficiently across the region. McLennan County currently faces food insecurity rates higher than the national average, with 19% of the population affected — and nearly 25% of children impacted. Our new Waco Facility will help us change that by enabling us to provide fresh, perishable food at a higher volume to the entire community.
Located at 1402 Gholson Road, this 11.3-acre facility will include a storage warehouse, sorting facility, public food pantry, and even a garden — each element designed with community needs in mind. Together with our partners and neighbors, we’re paving the way for a brighter, hunger-free future for McLennan County.
