Casino operator aids Vegas community

Las Vegas’ Historic Westside is to become the first neighborhood in the city to have a community-based urban agriculture farming facility thanks to a $500,000 contribution from MGM Resorts International.

The Historic Westside Farming Facility will establish a new, local food source in the Historic Westside in the city of Las Vegas. This facility will serve to tackle food insecurity rates in the neighbourhood while addressing unemployment and building community wealth.

The Historic Westside community has consistently struggled with reliable access to healthy food. As a food desert, Historic Westside residents experience 25.5 per cent food insecurity – the highest in the Las Vegas Valley.

“The city of Las Vegas is committed to bringing unique solutions, whenever possible, to challenges that may face communities,” Mayor Carolyn G Goodman said.

“This partnership will not only revitalise a currently unused public space and transform it into a farming facility providing healthy food, but it will also serve as a model for replication in other parts of the community.”

“This investment by MGM in the Historic Westside demonstrates the company’s commitment to our community and to addressing long-standing challenges unique to this neighbourhood by investing in creative solutions,” said Ward 5 Councilman Cedric Crear.

“I applaud MGM’s involvement in making this important project a reality. The legacy this will have will shape not only the Historic Westside in a positive way, but has the potential to be a model that can be replicated citywide and across the country.”