A National Push to Make Healthy Food Available to All

Did you know that right now in Washington D.C. there is a bipartisan effort gaining momentum to deal with our dual health and jobs crises?

From the White House to both aisles in Congress – and to the more than 200 organizations nationwide that have already signed on in support – it seems everyone is talking about the National Fresh Food Financing Initiative (NFFFI). The NFFFI is an innovative, proven approach that would help local supermarket chains, farmers markets, and corner stores bring much-needed fresh food options and jobs to underserved communities.

A Proven Approach

The Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative —a public-private partnership created in 2004—provides proof that NFFFI is a viable solution. In four years, it helped develop 68 supermarkets and fresh food outlets in underserved rural and urban areas throughout the state, creating or retaining 3,700 jobs in those communities. Making this happen, required just $30 million in state seed money, which have already leveraged an additional $165 million in private investment.

The program continues to dramatically improve access to healthy food statewide, while also driving meaningful, long-term economic development. The federal government should use this proven state program as the model for a national initiative to improve children’s health, create jobs, and spur economic development nationwide.

NFFFI is an effective and economically sustainable solution to the problem of limited access to healthy foods. It can achieve multiple goals: reducing health disparities and improving the health of families and children; creating jobs; and stimulating local economic development in low-income communities.

Like the Pennsylvania effort, NFFFI would attract investment in underserved communities by providing critical one time grant and loan financing. These one time resources will help fresh food retailers overcome the higher initial barriers to entry into underserved, low-income urban, suburban, and rural communities, and would also support renovation and expansion of existing stores so they can provide the healthy foods that communities want and need.

The program would be flexible and comprehensive enough to support innovations in healthy food retailing and to assist retailers with different aspects of the store development and renovation process, including pre-development costs, energy effi ciency upgrades, worker training, and land acquisition and construction.

How You Can Help

Tell Congress that the National Fresh Food Financing Initiative is crucial to bring healthy food and economic vitality to low-income, underserved communities.

More than 23 million Americans live in communities – urban, rural, and everything in between – without access to the fresh, healthy food they need to thrive. The National Fresh Food Financing Initiative would be a powerful step toward healthier communities for all Americans.

Click here to show your support for the National Fresh Food Financing Initiative.

Related posts:

1. Obama’s Budget Funds National Healthy Food Financing Initiative
2. Obama Administration Details Healthy Food Financing Initiative
3. Innovations in Healthy Retail Pay Off

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