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Greenhouse supports healthy lunch

Four hundred pounds of lettuce will be provided for Springfield schools.

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By Everdeen Mason, Staff Writer 9:50 PM Friday, October 7, 2011

By Everdeen Mason

Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — It’s only been four months since the groundbreaking, but TAC Enterprises’ greenhouse is ready to go.

The 3,000 square foot, $275,000 greenhouse will supply Springfield City Schools with 400 pounds of romaine lettuce a week, an expansion of a 2010 cooperative program. TAC — a private non-profit manufacturer that employs people with disabilities — celebrated the completion with a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning attended by TAC employees and board members and city and state officials.

The partnership came about after a Springfield City Schools employee told Chris Ashley, Springfield City Schools Food Service Director, that TAC was starting to grow lettuce in their facility at 2160 Old Selma Rd. Ashley said he saw it as a way to provide healthier lunches to Springfield’s 6,000 students at the various school locations.

“They really had a vision and we happened to provide the demand for their vision,” Ashley said at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

In order to provide the 400 pounds of lettuce and also to provide for area restaurants such as Seasons Bistro and Grille on South Limestone Street, TAC drummed up plans for their greenhouse.

Dave Faulkner, said they paid for part of the greenhouse with a $10,000 grant from the Springfield Foundation and a $100,000 grant from the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped.

“The requirement is to create 10 jobs in three years,” Faulkner said. “We hired six right now and as production ramps up, hitting the goal will be easy.”

Besides providing jobs for the handicapped, TAC is providing another opportunity for businesses to buy local.

Mike McDorman of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, said the greenhouse was a great example of local partnerships and the importance of buying local.

He said $68 of every $100 people spend in local stores goes back to the community.

“TAC supplying schools and area restaurants are the type of partnerships (Springfield) needs to grow,” McDorman said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or emason@coxohio.com.

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