Mayor Andre Dickens announced a major boost for Atlanta's underserved communities on Wednesday with a nearly $3 million investment aimed at improving access to healthy foods. The city has been chosen as one of 16 national recipients of the America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), a move that underscores Atlanta's efforts in combating food deserts.
Administered by Reinvestment Fund on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), HFFI is part of a concerted push to promote food supply chain resilience, create jobs, and revitalize neighborhoods in need. The program assists food retailers through financing and technical assistance, especially in areas where folks struggle to find fresh produce and other healthy food options.
"We are thankful to the USDA for this investment that will enable us to increase access to healthy foods, stimulate economic development, and foster a more vibrant and resilient city for all residents," Mayor Dickens said, according to the City of Atlanta website announcement. The initiative heralds not just a win for urban planning but a tangible lifeline to those residents cut off from nutritional sustenance.
This capital infusion joins a legacy of success; HFFI has already distributed $25.4 million to a range of projects nationwide, simultaneously upholding or generating over 1,800 jobs. Invest Atlanta and Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) are poised to manage the Atlanta Food Access Investment Initiative. "The HFFI funding expands our continuous efforts to overcome food access challenges and help food retailers, including those owned by and people of color, looking to invest in our communities," Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, explained in a statement captured by the City of Atlanta.
Atlanta residents should expect a raft of benefits from this strategic funding. The pot will include low-interest loans for businesses focusing on food access, and grants targeting business model innovation in pursuit of bettering the community through healthy food offerings. Martina Edwards, Chief of Strategic Partnerships, told the official city website that ACE anticipates it will support at least a whopping $1,000,000 in loan capital, ensuring that these enterprises not only thrive but nurture the very fabric of the neighborhoods they serve.
