courtesy Hudson County Executive Office
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy and Bayonne Mayor Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski participated in a July 27 groundbreaking ceremony for the Hudson County Community Market, a new consumer-choice food pantry that will expand food access for residents.
New Jersey State Health Assessment data say that as of 2023, 105,780 people in Hudson County were food insecure, about 14.9% of the county’s population, the highest percentage of any county and more than four percentage points higher than the state average.
Located at 685 Broadway in Bayonne, the two-story facility represents a $6.3 million investment in addressing food insecurity across Hudson County. The project is funded through $5 million in State American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding and $1.3 million in Hudson County ARP funding.
The first floor of the facility will house the consumer-choice pantry and will feature commercial-grade refrigeration and freezer units, dry storage shelving, point-of-service stations for inventory management, and a dedicated loading dock for efficient food deliveries.
The Hudson County Community Market will operate by appointment and will include evening and weekend hours to better accommodate working individuals and families. Daily operations will be managed in partnership with a nonprofit organization selected through a fair and open process to ensure high-quality, community-centered service.
Plans for the building’s second floor are being finalized, with the space intended to serve as offices where residents can connect with county social services and other supportive resources. The Hudson County Community Market will be staffed primarily by volunteers, with one full-time and two part-time county staff members supporting operations.