When we first told you about the Eastland Prosperity Center last year, it was an ambitious plan: turn a shuttered Kroger on Refugee Road into a thriving hub for food access, healthcare, and social services. Now, the vision is getting clearer, and bigger.
On May 23, leaders from the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) and The Ohio State University College of Nursing announced a major new partnership that’s turning this dream into something much more powerful, a national model for community well-being.
Set to open in late 2026, the Eastland Prosperity Center will now include a full-service health care hub, operated by The Ohio State University’s Total Health Care Center. That means primary care, dental and pharmacy services, behavioral and women’s health, and more, all available on-site, right alongside free groceries, social service agencies, and workforce development programs.
The Heart of the East Side
If you live in Eastland or Southeast Columbus, you already know that access to quality food and health care hasn’t always been easy. This project is about changing that, not with band-aid solutions, but with bold, permanent investments.
“We’re not just creating a clinic or a food pantry,” said MOFC President and CEO Matt Habash. “We’re building a neighborhood anchor, a place where health and dignity go hand in hand.”
The 67,000-square-foot space will include:
- A free Mid-Ohio Market for fresh groceries
- A production kitchen for healthy prepared meals
- A community health clinic run by OSU’s College of Nursing
- City programs like WIC, CelebrateOne, and the Far East Neighborhood Pride Center
- Social services and benefits outreach
- Job training and workforce development with Jewish Family Services
The health clinic itself will occupy nearly one-fifth of the building, delivering whole-person care that meets people where they are.
“This partnership with MOFC is how we expand our mission of answering the call to care,” said Dr. Karen Rose, dean of OSU’s College of Nursing.
Built by, and for, the Community
What sets the Eastland Prosperity Center apart is its roots in community input. MOFC and its partners spent months listening to Eastland residents and asking: What do you need? What’s missing?
The answers, healthy food, nearby doctors, maternal care, and help navigating social support, became the blueprint for what the center will offer.
And while the project is being led by MOFC, it’s being shaped by voices from across Columbus. Partners include the City of Columbus, Franklin County, the State of Ohio, HUD, the Greater South East Area Commission, and groups like Liberians in Columbus. Even The Columbus Foundation is investing $1 million to help bring the center to life.
What’s Next?
As the work ramps up, MOFC is asking for continued support from individuals and organizations who believe in the project’s mission. Every donation helps move the center one step closer to serving the 100,000 residents it’s designed for.
In the meantime, we’ll keep you posted with updates, and when 2026 arrives, we’ll be first in line to check out this bold new chapter in Eastland’s story.
Want to be part of it? Learn more or support the project at mofc.org/eastland.
Renderings via Mid-Ohio Food Collective
