The Hochul administration is moving forward on its support of a food co-op in the Fruit Belt after the group’s tax-exempt status was restored by the IRS.
The African Heritage Economic Initiative, the nonprofit arm of the African Heritage Food Co-op, lost its tax-exempt status in May 2022 for failing to file mandatory forms three years in a row. The forms provide an accounting of a nonprofit’s governance and financial activities.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the grant to open the co-op at 238 Carlton St., weeks after the deadly Tops shooting on May 14, 2022, part of a $50 million aid package for the East Side.
Her administration was unaware at the time that the co-op had lost its tax-exempt status more than three weeks earlier, since the IRS didn’t post the revocation until Aug. 8.
Problems continued for the co-op in July, when Alexander Wright, its founder and president, resigned after being pulled over by Buffalo police and charged with cocaine and weapons possession, as well as driving while impaired.
“Gov. Hochul remains committed to addressing food insecurity and other inequities in East Buffalo, which is why the state committed $3 million to the community-driven African Heritage Food Cooperative to create a locally owned and operated food cooperative that will ensure the community has access to affordable and healthy food options,” a statement from the Governor’s Office said.
The food co-op must undergo a review process that includes three years of financial statements, board structure and full budget breakdown with supporting documentation.
A public hearing will be held if the project is approved by the Empire State Development Corp. board of directors. The Public Authorities Control Board ultimately must approve the project to receive state money.
Pastor Kinzer Pointer, the co-op’s board chairman and CEO, said he looks forward to the project advancing and receiving input from the public, now that he has the…
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