As Part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, Funding Will Help Grocers, Markets and Other Organizations Provide Healthy Food Options to Underserved Communities
RALEIGH, North Carolina- Nov. 1, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced USDA is partnering with Reinvestment Fund to invest $576 thousand to improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities in North Carolina today.
The investments are being made through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Planning Grant Program, which provides grants to organizations for healthy food retail or food retail supply chain projects in early-stage planning and predevelopment phases.
“No matter where you live in our country, you should be able to get affordable, fresh, and healthy food close to home,” Torres Small said. “Through the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is working with farmers and ranchers, food retailers, and other stakeholders to strengthen the local and regional food systems we all count on. Reinvestment Fund has been a key partner to USDA in these efforts and today’s investments will ensure more communities get the nutritious food we all deserve.”
This announcement is part of USDA’s comprehensive set of efforts, bolstered by funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, to create more and better markets that benefit both producers and American consumers.
For example:
- In Mecklenburg County, the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition will use a $150 thousand HFFI Grant to assist the Three Sister’s Market develop a comprehensive business and fundraising plan for the growth of their community growth-based business.
- In New Hanover County, Northside Food Coop will use a $126 thousand USDA HFFI Grant to assist in the creation of a community-focused grocery store located in Wilmington's historically underserved Northside neighborhood.
- In Wake County, Carolina Common Enterprise will use a $150 thousand USDA HFFI Grant to develop, design and documentation for the construction of the new grocery store.
- In Warren County, Working Landscapes will use a $150 thousand USDA HFFI Grant to assess the food needs of the Warren County community and complete a feasibility analysis for a proposed grocery store.
“Through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, USDA partners with Reinvestment Fund to bring healthy food options to underserved rural, urban and Tribal communities,” said Rural Development State Director Reginald Speight. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting local and regional food systems so people who live in even the most remote parts of North Carolina won’t need to travel far from home to find fresh, healthy food.”
HFFI is designed to support new and expanded markets for a diversity of growers while helping people across the nation access affordable, healthy foods.
Nationwide, today’s announcement includes investments that will support planning activities for 45 projects totaling nearly $6 million to develop or expand food retail and food retail supply chain business models.
Projects announced today will increase access to healthy food for people living in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
Background
Many low-income communities lack adequate, affordable access to healthy food. HFFI provides grants and loans to entities that offer healthy foods in communities that are underserved by grocery stores and other food retailers. The program increases access to healthy foods, provides new market opportunities for farmers and ranchers, stabilizes small and independent retailers, and creates good-paying jobs and economic opportunity in low-income communities.
Through HFFI, USDA partners with Reinvestment Fund to bring healthy food options to underserved rural, urban and Tribal communities. Reinvestment Fund serves as the National Fund Manager for USDA. It raises capital; provides financial and technical assistance to regional, state and local partnerships; and helps fund projects to improve access to fresh, healthy foods in underserved areas.
In August 2023, Reinvestment Fund expanded America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative to include the new HFFI Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program.
In June 2024, the Reinvestment Fund expanded the Healthy Food Financing Initiative to include the Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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