Partners:
Healthy Food Financing Initiative
The national Healthy Food Financing Initiative is a viable, effective, and economically sustainable solution to the problem of limited access to healthy foods and 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. This is a smart investment in the health and economic well-being of the country and its citizens.
Like the Pennsylvania effort, a national Healthy Food Financing Initiative would attract investment in underserved communities by providing critical one time grant and loan financing. These one-time resources would 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.
In the midst of the country’s current economic downturn, the need for a comprehensive federal policy to address the lack of fresh food access in low-income communities and communities of color is critical.
Resources:
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Learn more about the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. |
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. |
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Bipartisan "Healthy Food Financing" Bills Would Create Jobs and Cut Dietary Diseases |
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| U.S. Senator Gillibrand announces the National Healthy Food Financing Initative Legislation at a New York Supermarket. | |
| First Lady Michelle Obama launches Let's Move, a nationwide campaign targeting childhood obesity. Access to affordable, healthy foods is highlighted as one of the campaign's four key components. Learn more. | |
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On December 15, 2009, U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) and 20 co-sponsors introduced a resolution in support of a national Healthy Food Financing Initiative, based on a highly successful program in Pennsylvania. Read the resolution. |
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On December 16, 2009, the House Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Innovations in Addressing Childhood Obesity. The hearing examined innovative strategies to reduce obesity among children and adolescents. TRF's Jeremy Nowak testified at the hearing. Read his complete testimony. |
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On July 23, 2009 the White House came to Philadelphia to spotlight the PA Fresh Food Financing Initiative. Learn more about the visit. |
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About the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative. Learn more about the program's history and impact, and some of the stores supported.
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TRF recently completed an analysis estimating Supermarket Access for the continental US. TRF estimates that 23 million US residents (8.5%) live in areas with inadequate access to supermarkets – of which 19 million (83%) live in low- or moderate-income areas. TRF identified the areas where residents travel longer distances to supermarkets compared to the average distance of higher-income areas that share similar values for population density and car ownership rate. Underserved areas that were identified through this process are defined as Low Access Areas (LAAs) and represent areas with the strongest need for additional access to supermarkets. The following is the methodology TRF used. |
For more information:
For questions about the success of the PA program and the financing model: Patricia Smith, 215.574.5898 or patricia.smith@trfund.com.
Many operators of the stores financed in Pennsylvania are happy to speak with media or interested policymakers. Please contact Patricia Smith for an introduction.
For questions about food access and health issues: John Weidman, 267.679.4460 or jweidman@thefoodtrust.org.
For questions about the national initiative: Judith Bell, 510.390.8179 or jbell@policylink.org.