The Princeton-Caldwell County Industrial Development Authority is considering Christ Tabernacle’s request regarding an expansion to better serve the community with food distributions.
Brother Troy Jent with the church recently explained to IDA members that for the last 10 years Christ Tabernacle has been running a food distribution after PACS shut down its food pantry and asked the church to take it over. Currently, he said they are distributing food to hundreds of families.
click to download audioHe noted that many residents come to the food pantry throughout the month, but the big food distribution day is the one everyone wants to come to and they are lined up hours before it starts.
Bro. Jent said their desire is to build a warehouse and a distribution center in order to extend their hours and have a facility where individuals can come in and shop for food.
click to download audioHe said it would also allow them to spend more time with the people to help them get out of this “season or cycle of poverty or whatever it is”, which they can’t do currently.
In order to do that, Bro. Jent said they need more space for a facility. He explained there are about 6.5 acres behind the church that adjoins their property, and they would like to acquire about half of that acreage to expand.
click to download audioHe asked the IDA to partner with Christ Tabernacle for their food distribution effort, emphasizing that the church was not receiving any benefit from the endeavor, but simply wanted to help the community.
Bro. Jent added that he is committed to raising money to construct a building and asked the IDA to consider donating the land for that purpose.
IDA member and Executive Director Amanda Davenport of the Lake Barkley Partnership for Economic Development emphasized the vital service that Christ Tabernacle is providing for the community and stated that further discussions would be necessary before a commitment can be made.
click to download audioJudge-Executive Kota Young, chair of the IDA, acknowledged that the agency is not equipped to donate the property and that they will need to look into the process further.
click to download audioYoung and Davenport affirmed to Bro. Jent they will thoroughly review the statutory provisions to determine the best course of action before proceeding with his request.
