Learn more about successful projects and research studies advancing healthy food access in the community:
Federal Policy Efforts (State-specific)
IFF
IFF used HFFI financing to establish the Healthy Food Access Program to finance both forprofit and nonprofit grocery stores in areas without access to fresh and healthy food. IFF has funded five grocery projects to date, including one in Iowa, and it has a pipeline of potential deals to fund in 2014. In 2013, IFF helped finance C Fresh Market, a full-service grocery store that has already created 25 jobs in a high-poverty neighborhood of Des Moines. You can find more information here.
Source of money: HFFI CDFI-Financial Assistance Program
Note: IFF is a CDFI headquartered in Illinois that is using HFFI financing in Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
Quad Cities Food Hub, Inc.
The Quad Cities Food Hub (QCFH) is using HFFI financing to initiate the Healthy Food & Farms Project, which will consist of several initiatives to increase healthy food access and distribution in eight counties in Illinois and Iowa. QCFH will extend its year-round retail store with expanded hours, initiate virtual food box ordering to improve access, create a second Healthy Food Mobile Market to expand access to food in food deserts, and complete two licensed shared-use kitchens as spaces for local food production entrepreneurs and caterers. This project will also support local farmers by creating a better food distribution infrastructure and providing assistance to increase their yield capacity. This project will create 30 new full-time positions.
Source of money: HFFI CED Program
State & Local Policy Efforts
Are you working on a local or state policy effort in this state? Let us know at [email protected] or visit the Contact Us page to add to the Portal.
We encourage you to check out the following resources to learn more about or get involved with food access issues in your state:
- Research Your Community: Plug in your city, ZIP code, or state into this mapping tool to better understand key health, demographic, food access, and healthy retail characteristics in your community.
- Tap Into Your Local Food System: Read how you can get involved, including connecting with your local food policy council.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.