FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2025

Liberians in Columbus, Inc. and Mid-Ohio Food Collective Forge Strategic Partnership to Launch LICI Produce Market @ Eastland Prosperity Center

COLUMBUS, OH – Liberians in Columbus, Inc. (LICI) is pleased to announce a landmark partnership with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) to establish and operate the LICI Produce Market @ Eastland Prosperity Center a dynamic 10,000-square-foot food distribution and community hub set to open in 2026.

On June 4, 2025, LICI leadership and Board members met with Tammy Tucker, Senior Project Manager, and Brad Draper, Senior Vice President of Operations at MOFC, to solidify this bold, community-first initiative. Located at the former Kroger site near Refugee and Hamilton Roads in southeast Columbus, the Eastland Prosperity Center will serve as a vital asset to address food insecurity, promote health equity, and fuel regional revitalization.

As the market's lead operator, LICI will oversee daily operations and continue its legacy of service and advocacy for underserved communities. This project represents a significant investment in Southeast Columbus and is a critical step in expanding healthy food access across more than 20 ZIP codes.

A Legacy Rooted in Service

Since launching its food access initiative in 2019, LICI has become a trusted provider of fresh, nutritious food for needy families. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization distributed over 200,000 pounds of fresh produce and household essentials to Central Ohio’s Liberian and immigrant communities. What began as a small grassroots operation has grown into a robust monthly outreach program, currently held:

  • Second Saturday at the LICI Community Resource Center (4300 Kimberly Parkway)
  • Fourth Saturday at the future Eastland Prosperity Center site

Each event supports over 250 families, addressing food insecurity with dignity and compassion.

The Eastland Prosperity Center: A Collaborative Community Hub

The Eastland Prosperity Center will offer more than food distribution. It will be a full-scale community services anchor, bringing together nonprofit and human services organizations in one location to deliver wraparound support. Confirmed partners include:

  • Liberians in Columbus, Inc. (Lead Market Operator)
  • Mid-Ohio Food Collective (Food Supply & Site Partner)
  • Jewish Family Services
  • Community Development for All People
  • Eastland Prosperity Market
  • Additional health, workforce development, and social service providers

The center’s mission is to advance health equity, economic opportunity, and neighborhood resilience, especially for residents in historically under-resourced areas.

About Liberians in Columbus, Inc. (LICI)

Established in 1986 by Liberian students and residents, LICI is a nonprofit, community-based organization dedicated to uniting, empowering, and advocating for the well-being of Liberians and the wider immigrant population in Central Ohio. LICI's programming spans civic engagement, youth leadership, food justice, and community development, creating lasting impact across generations.

Media Contact:
Liberians in Columbus, Inc.
info@lici.org
www.lici.org

Together, we are building a healthier, more resilient future—one family, one neighborhood, and one partnership at a time.