ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 17, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is partnering with Reinvestment Fund to help organizations strengthen local food financing programs and improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities across the country. Deputy Secretary Torres Small today is joining Reinvestment Fund and the New Mexico Healthy Food Financing Fund Partnership to make the announcement and host a food access round table at Explora Science Center & Children's Museum in Albuquerque – a food retail location partnership with previous Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) grantee Three Sisters Kitchen.
"No matter where you live across America, you should be able to get affordable, fresh, and healthy food," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small. "President Biden and USDA are working to strengthen local and regional food systems so affordable locally grown foods are available closer to home. USDA is proud to partner with Reinvestment Fund so even more people can find good food options anywhere they live, all while supporting local farmers and ranchers."
Patricia Dominguez, USDA Rural Development State Director for New Mexico, said, "Underserved doesn't mean forgotten for us, it’s simply highlighting more areas of opportunity for innovative partnerships."
Through funding made available primarily by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, Reinvestment Fund has selected 16 public-private partnerships to receive $40.3 million in grants under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Local & Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program to expand access to nutritious and affordable foods in 20 states and Washington, D.C.
The New Mexico Healthy Food Financing Fund Partnership will use funding to conduct new market studies to collect and analyze information that highlights strengths and weaknesses within the New Mexico food ecosystem. The partnership will use this data to support the creation of programs that improve the sustainability and resiliency in New Mexico’s healthy food distribution channels.
The 16 partnerships being announced today represent 75 local organizations across the country. They will create or expand food financing programs and increase access to healthy food for people living in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.
A full description of the partner organizations, their respective missions, and the communities they serve is available online.
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.