Ithaca, NY –Assemblymember Anna Kelles and New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, toured the 125th district today, celebrating with a ribbon cutting, the new farm infrastructure at the Learning Farm and announcing $750,000 in funding for the Red and White Cafe, a project of Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC). The Assembly Majority is seeking an award in the spring for a year-round pool facility for GIAC.

For Speaker Carl Heastie, it was a continuation of his statewide tour when he stopped in Tompkins County today. His first stop with Assemblymember Kelles was the Learning Farm, where they participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for one of the newly constructed cabins on site.

Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Kelles joined Executive Director Christa Núñez for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Learning Farm, a repurposed dairy farm that provides children and families the ability to connect with the outdoors and learn more about sustainable farming and food practices. The ribbon cutting celebrates the opening of several cabins on the farm that will allow the farm to expand their services into overnight offerings thanks to a $200,000 Assembly Majority investment, in addition to the Majority’s allocation of $450,000, which helped the farm construct a commercial kitchen to further expand their teachings on sustainable food production and the benefit of shared community meals.

The funding will enable the construction of four cabins, renovations to the cottage and the erecting of ten high-end, canvas “glamping” tents that are expected to be completed in the Spring of 2025. This infrastructure is critical to the farm’s mission to provide an immersive experience on the farm. When people stay on the farm they learn more about the farming processes, the many ways the farm prioritizes biodiversity, water conservation and sustainable practices and more.

“This ribbon cutting marks an exciting opportunity for The Learning Farm’s ability to expand their offerings to the community,” said Speaker Heastie. “Assemblymember Kelles fought hard for this funding as she knows the incredible value of providing our children with the knowledge of sustainable farming and food practices that will spread into future generations.”

“I am honored to have Speaker Heastie join me today to celebrate these two incredible organizations in our community. Both the Learning Farm and GIAC provide invaluable opportunities for young people in the Ithaca community, particularly for our BIPOC young people who are far too commonly underserved and under-resourced. I am proud to celebrate this exciting expansion of the Learning Farm as we continue to support their effort to instill an appreciation of sustainable food production practices into our community,” said Assemblymember Kelles, “I am also deeply grateful to have the Speaker support this significant investment in GIAC. These funds will allow them to not only continue providing activities programming, culinary education and opportunities for underrepresented youth in our community but also help to spur a neighborhood’s revitalization.”

Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Kelles then met with GIAC Director Leslyn McBean-Clairborne to tour their facilities and learn more about their effort to provide multicultural, educational and recreational programs to the Greater Ithaca community. The Assembly Majority secured $750,000 to expand the historic Red and White Café that provides employment opportunities for teens and young adults in the community. This $750,000 is a match to the budgeted $250,000 from the city of Ithaca with deep appreciation for their commitment to the community for supporting neighborhood revitalization. GIAC in partnership with the Assembly Majority is also looking to secure additional funding to renovate the Alex Haley pool that provides year-round swimming opportunities to disadvantaged communities.

The Greater Ithaca Activities Center offers educational and culturally uplifting programs to the community, catered to all ages from youth to teen and adults. It hosts an after-school program and a summer day camp for area youth as well as teen programming and meals. GIAC also offers summer basketball leagues for youth and adults, and trips to see plays, sporting events or outings in NYC. Its oldest recreational program is boxing. The center's programs include services dedicated to improving the quality of life for the those they serve; advocating for the rights and needs of youth, families, underrepresented, and disenfranchised populations; providing structured employment training opportunities for at-risk youth and adults; and fighting against oppression and intimidation in the community.