Borough President Diaz, BOEDC & FreshDirect Reach Agreement
February 14, 2012
Around Town – By Neal Tepel
The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation and FreshDirect have reached an agreement on best practices to address a number of the concerns that have been raised snce FreshDirect's proposed relocation was made public. The "memorandum of understanding" includes agreements between the three parties on local hiring, vendor referrals, expanding FreshDirect's services to new Bronx neighborhoods, accepting EBT benefits, and decreasing the company's reliance on fossil fuels through the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles.
"I am very excited that FreshDirect will make the Bronx its new home, and that we have come to an agreement with the company that will ensure their commitment to the Bronx for decades to come. FreshDirect's decision to stay in New York City, right here in the Bronx, is a win-win for everyone. FreshDirect is a real home-grown success that will now continue to grow, creating almost a thousand new jobs in our borough, which is not only a victory for the Bronx but also the entire City," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
"We welcome FreshDirect to the Bronx and know that our collaboration will result in a rich environment for them, our residents and the other Bronx businesses that are anxious to provide their growing customer base with additional products made in our Borough," said Marlene Cintron, president, Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.
Fresh Direct will transfer almost two thousand jobs, 30% of which are currently Bronxites, and will create an additional 1,000 positions in the near future.
