BIDDEFORD — A community kitchen, growing fresh produce on the rooftop of one of Biddeford’s historic buildings, these are just some of the ideas that will bandied about at a workshop next week.

Local Foods, Local Places is a federal initiative “that helps communities reinvest in their neighborhoods and improve quality of life as they develop the local food economy,” according to a press release on the program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Delta Regional Authority support the LFLP initiative and provided technical assistance funding to the nonprofit arts organization Engine, which is spearheading the workshop. Sixteen communities from more than 75 applicants were chosen as LFLP initiative recipients.

This initiative “is an opportunity to convene our community leaders — city of Biddeford, the Heart of Biddeford, Coastal Healthy Communities at University of New England, Biddeford public schools, and a local producer, The Farm — around the importance locally grown food can play in the creative revitalization of our historic Marble Block and the downtown,” said Tammy Ackerman, executive director of Engine.

“There is a lot of underutilized space in (downtown) Biddeford,” she said. During the workshop, participants will “look at food systems and how they can contribute” locally by taking advantage of some of that underutilized space. For instance, Ackerman said, there could be food-based ventures such as growing fruits and vegetables on the 14 acres of the city’s former mill building and/or the back roof of the Marble Block roof on Main Street, a community kitchen producing food products locally or kitchen for students that could be used by a culinary arts program to train future chefs.

During workshop sessions, an action plan with specific steps to implement it will be created. Some of the goals could include: keeping money spent on in the local economy and creating new jobs; sustaining or reinvigorating local agriculture; attracting investment into the city center and reducing food insecurity.

“We look forward to helping our community partners develop local food enterprises that support local farmers, improve public health, protect the environment, and grow local economies,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

Michael Whitmore who with his wife Emily owns The Farm in Biddeford, grew up in the city. He said he’s thrilled to see the redevelopment happening in the city’s downtown and mill district but said “the last missing link is more local food in downtown Biddeford.”

Access to more local food in the downtown could not only reap economic benefits but also health benefits, he said.

The best way to do that, Whitmore said, is by involving youth.

“If we can get kids excited about eating veggies or cooking a little but on a budget we think that’s the next step,” he said.

“This federal support will be a major asset in keeping up the momentum of Biddeford’s downtown revitalization” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. “Over the last 10 years, it has been exciting to watch Biddeford rebuild its local economy with new manufacturers and other creative entrepreneurs. Bringing food production there to the next level has huge potential for drawing more attention and investment to the community.”

For more information on the Local Food Local Places workshop, visit the website feedtheengine.org. To register for the workshop, which takes place 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday at Engine, 128 Main St., Biddeford, go to register@feed the engine.org. People can sign up for one or several sessions. RSVP is not required but is appreciated. Light refreshments will be provided.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324, or dmendros@journaltribune.com.