ERIE AQUAPONICS

A V E N T U R E O F T H E U R B A N E R I E C O MM

U N I T Y D E V E L O P ME N T

C O R P O R A T I O N

URBAN ERIE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The UECDC is a non-profit organization that provides educational services and employment preparation skills to the impoverished, disadvantaged and at-risk individuals of the Erie Community.

Erie Aquaponics was launched in association with the UECDC. The efforts of Erie Aquaponics, a for-profit business, will dovetail with the programs of the UECDC to bring much needed jobs to the area, and additionally to provide opportunities and training for business ownership.

THE NEIGHBORHOODThe UECDC serves residents of public housing and many

New American refugees and immigrants, primarily from Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Almost 40% of residents in the Census Tracts serves live below the Federal poverty level. The number of youth in poverty exceeds 50%.

Erie Aquaponics will help the neighborhood in two ways: by providing living-wage jobs for people in the area and by providing access to healthy, affordable foods in one of the most impacted food desert areas of the tri-state region.

Fresh produce will be available weekly at a farm stand on-site and additionally through a CSA (community-supported agriculture) outlet.

What is it?Aquaponics combines the

technology of hydroponics systems (the process of growing plants in a soilless growing medium with added nutrients), with that of aquaculture (raising aquatic organisms such as fish).

Why choose aquaponics?It is a viable, emerging food

industry. We project that the aquaponics industry will see strong growth over the next 5-10 years.

Aquaponics produces more food per square foot than either hydroponics or conventional agriculture practices.

It offers a controlled environment and requires no pesticides, thereby producing a healthier product.

Aquaponics provides self-circulating systems whereby the waste water is reused.

AQUAPONICS OVERVIEW

FRESH VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONErie Aquaponics will be primarily a

vegetable farm, producing head lettuce, gourmet salad blends, basil, and other herbs. Approximately five percent of product sold will be the fish themselves – fresh yellow perch and tilapia.

Production will be located at the Joyce A. Savocchio Business Park. Initially one 12,000 sq.ft. greenhouse will be built, with plans to expand to eight times the amount of production in the future.

12,000 Sq. Ft.

96,000 Sq. Ft.

Over 600,000 heads of lettuce annually

Over 5 million heads of lettuce annually

$626,000 annual sales

$5 million annual sales

5 full-time jobs created

35 full-time jobs created

WORKER-OWNED COOPERATIVEWorker-owned cooperatives have

proven to be successful wealth-building models on both the international scale – such as Mondragon in Spain – and the local and regional scale, such as with the Cleveland-based Evergreen Cooperatives.

Erie Aquaponics will be a for-profit company made up of a Board of Directors and Worker-Owners. Each Worker-Owner owns a share of the company and gains from its success. The cooperative aspect of Erie Aquaponics is a key element to building wealth, self-sufficiency, and leadership skills in East Erie.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

CONTACT

Annie SchmittAquaponics Facility Managerannie.aquaponics@gmail.com

(814) 899-3904

UECDC2046 E 19th Street,

Erie, PA 16510