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Atlanta City Council funds grocery and produce initiative to end food deserts – WSB-TV Channel 2

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Atlanta City Council funds grocery and produce initiative to end food deserts – WSB-TV Channel 2

ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council approved funding to address the city’s poor access to fresh food and grocery stores through an initiative in partnership with Invest Atlanta.

According to the City Council, $6 million is being transferred to the Invest Atlanta Grocery and Fresh Food Providers Initiative to increase access to fresh food in low-income and low-access neighborhoods in Atlanta.

Council Member Marci Collier Overstreet said the move is a response to an ongoing effort to improve access to healthier foods in Atlanta communities.

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“Four years ago, research showed that a quarter of Atlanta residents lacked access to fresh, affordable food,” Overstreet said in a statement. “Overcoming the prolonged disinvestment that has led to a very visible shortage of grocery and fresh food options in parts of Atlanta requires a concerted effort. This is essential to ensure the viability and resurgence of neighborhoods and the well-being of their residents and businesses.

Through the transfer of funds to the initiative, Invest Atlanta will be able to build grocery stores in city food deserts or areas with little or no access to grocery stores and fresh food.

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The nonprofit said its grocery program aims to entice supermarkets to come to the city and retain, grow and strengthen healthy food businesses already existing in Atlanta.

However, Overstreet noted that improving access to these resources is not always easy or economical.

“Improving access to food in historically underserved areas has proven to be a challenge. Consultations with market analysts have determined that it is not financially feasible to attract traditional grocery store operators and fresh food delivery providers to underserved areas without a significant public subsidy,” Overstreet said. .

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