SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah -- Wednesday was "chocolate chip cookie day" for Utah.

That's what Bishop H. David Burton, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said as a new $10 million Utah Food Bank facility was dedicated in South Salt Lake.

Located at 3150 S. 900 West, the 86,000-square-foot facility will allow the Utah Food Bank to double its current distribution of 23 million pounds of food per year.

Bishop Burton said the new facility, which he considers a treat for the state, will bless the lives of many.

"It's a great organization in helping others," Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said of the Utah Food Bank, stressing that it began back in 1904. "Government can't do it all."

The Mormon general authority said that in these difficult economic times we must help our neighbors and that no organization has done that better than the Utah Food Bank.

Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah described the new facility as incredible.

Ginette Bott, a member of the Utah Food Bank board of directors, said the new facility represents four years of planning and work.

Executive director Jim Pugh said the new facility got a boost from some 217,000 volunteer hours last year, representing a savings of $3.5 million in wages.

"Utah is currently ranked fourth highest in the nation for food insecurity," said Pugh. "Unfortunately, we do not see this trend reversing."

Utah Food Bank has increased its shipments from just over 9 million pounds of food in 1996 to almost 23 million in 2009. In order to keep pace with the growing demand for food assistance and to continue to accept large donations from generous donors, Utah Food Bank embarked on its quest to seek a larger facility.

Its former facility was located at 1025 S. 700 West.

In the past year, Utah Food Bank has raised $8.6 million toward its $10 million goal to purchase a new building, complete renovations and purchase equipment.

Utah Food Bank also announced a new investment of $1.6 million from Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group (UIG).

UIG is making a substantial equity investment and a loan to help Utah Food Bank complete the renovation of its new facility and buy much-needed additional equipment to help distribute food across Utah.

"The tremendous generosity of our early donors has created a solid foundation for the building of a larger and more efficient facility to help the hungry," said Susan C. Rather, chair of the Utah Food Bank Services board of directors. "This new distribution center will enable us to acquire and distribute millions more pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products and other nutrient-rich, perishable foods."

"Providing financing to this critical new facility is just one example of our ongoing commitment to the Salt Lake City community," said Alicia Glen, managing director of the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group.

Utah Food Bank works with more than 125 partner hunger-relief agencies, while also maximizing its capacity to properly store, refrigerate and distribute high-quality, nutritious food.

Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 22.3 million pounds of food, the equivalent of over 17.4 million meals for families and individuals in need. Utah Food Bank also operates 19 Kids Cafe sites, 2-1-1 Information & Referral and Services for Seniors.

For more information about Utah Food Bank call 801-978-2452 or go to www.utahfoodbank.org.

E-mail: lynn@desnews.com