Supermarkets & Healthy Food Vendors Examples
State
Pennsylvania Provides Financial Incentives to Attract Grocery Stores
Pennsylvania Public Health and Human Services, the Philadelphia City Council Committee and The Food Trust, a nonprofit organization, created a Food Marketing Task Force to help grocery stores reinvest in lower-income areas. With legislative assistance, the task force convinced the state to commit $30 million for the development of grocery stores. The Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, the Reinvestment Fund and The Food Trust have formed a public-private partnership to administer the Fresh Food Financing Initiative funding, which consists of $30 million in state and $90 million in private funding.
www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0510ACTIVELIVINGPA.PDF
Nevada Offers Tax Breaks for Grocery Stores Willing to Locate in Lower-Income Urban Communities
Building on prior legislation, which provided a temporary tax incentive for locating or expanding businesses that are, or are willing to become, grocery stores within the Southern Nevada Enterprise Community, a Nevada law allows developers to apply for a partial abatement of the taxes imposed on necessary capital equipment.
www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/SB/SB352_EN.pdf
California Helps Lower-Income Earners Shop at Farmers’ Markets
Through the state’s Farmers’ Market Program, lower-income earners who participate in the , the new name for the food stamp program, can use their electronic benefit transfer cards in nontraditional markets, including farmers’ markets, produce stands and similar open-air markets. Started as a pilot project in 2003, the program is now available statewide.
www.ebtproject.ca.gov/farmers.aspx
Local
Gary Offers Tax Incentives to Attract Supermarkets
In Gary, Ind., the city combined market analysis with a package of tax abatements, empowerment zone benefits, and assistance with land assembly to attract supermarkets. The City Council used data from a to successfully attract a nationally recognized grocery franchise—County Market, owned by SuperValu—to develop a site that had been vacant for seven years.
www.thefoodtrust.org/pdf/SupermktReport_F.pdf
Grocery Bus in Austin Provides Latino Residents Access to Supermarkets
Some communities have developed public transportation routes that make it simple for people to access supermarkets outside of their neighborhood. The Austin, Texas Capital Metro, working with the Austin/Travis County Food Policy Council, started a grocery bus line to improve food access for lower-income residents from the Latino Eastside. This bus line links this neighborhood with two supermarkets.
www.ncsl.org/programs/health/publicHealth/foodaccess/transportation_policies.htm
New York City Develops Green Carts and Healthy Bodegas Campaign
New York City has established an innovative mobile markets initiative that has put “green carts” full of fresh fruits and vegetables in lower-income areas that have the least access to fresh produce. New York City partnered with a nonprofit small business lender to provide low-interest loans to green-cart vendors. The loans cover start-up costs, such as equipment and inventory. Consequently, green cart legislation covers neighborhoods where residents reported the lowest consumption of fruits and vegetables. In a related measure, the city’s health department launched a Healthy Bodegas Initiative, whereby the city helps neighborhood bodega owners promote the offering of low-fat milk and fresh produce in communities that have the highest rates of poverty and diet-related diseases in the city.
http://council.nyc.gov/html/releases/011_022708_prestated_greencarts.shtml
Troy Increases Access to Healthy Foods Through Veggie Mobile Program
Troy, N.Y., is increasing access to nutritious foods in underserved communities. Through its Veggie Mobile program, fresh foods, such as herbs, fruits and vegetables, are delivered to Troy residents who lack nearby supermarkets. The Veggie Mobile is funded through a New York State Health Department grant. Every Wednesday, a “Taste and Take” program is available in public housing complexes, where residents can taste different healthy foods and receive free fresh produce.
http://www.cdcg.org/VeggieMobile.html
New Orleans Increases Access to Healthy Foods Through a Corner Store Initiative
Following Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans area lost 21 of 36 major supermarkets, forcing many residents to do their grocery shopping at corner stores. In response, the city has launched the Corner Store Initiative to encourage local convenience stores to carry healthier food options. Stores receive free in-store displays to promote healthy food items, stickers to identify new, healthier items being stocked, health information handouts for customers, newspaper and/or radio advertising promoting the store as a “Steps Corner Store” and promotion at community gatherings, including local farmers’ markets or clinics.
http://healthycornerstores.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/NOLA_Healthy_Corner_Stores_Toolkit.pdf
New York Offers a Greenmarket Program for Lower-Income Residents
New York City established 10 new farmers’ markets through the Greenmarket program in an effort to bring more affordable healthy foods to lower-income residents. Several of the sites are located on the grounds of public housing complexes. Shoppers are able to use senior coupons, coupons and electronic benefit transfer cards (EBT) for , or food stamp, benefits at many of the markets for purchasing produce. In a related effort, the city’s health department runs the Health Bucks Program, which distributes vouchers redeemable for produce at farmers’ markets. The vouchers are distributed at community events in neighborhoods with high rates of obesity and diabetes.
www.mbpo.org/uploads/FoodInThePublicInterest.pdf
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