Learn more about successful projects and research studies advancing healthy food access in the community:
Federal Policy Efforts (State-specific)
Hacienda Community Development Corporation
Hacienda Community Development Corporation (HCDC) and the Asamblea, a well-organized group of 25 low-income Latino entrepreneurs, are using HFFI financing to help plan and develop the Portland Mercado. The Portland Mercado will combine elements of indoor public markets in the U.S. with the bustle and feel of Latin American open-air markets. The Mercado entrepreneurs will offer a mix of goods and services, including culturally specific foods and handcrafted artisan items. The 5,200-square-foot Mercado will bring fresh food to an underserved community and create 47 jobs for low-income individuals. Vendors will operate as a cooperative, with the long-term goal of owning the Mercado as an asset for the Latino community. You can find more information here.
Source of money: HFFI CED Program
Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation
Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO) is using HFFI financing to create CSA Prepped!, which is a channel for vendors to sell locally grown produce, grains, and herbs prepared in Sprout! Regional Food HUB (NEDCO’S commercial kitchen in Lane County, Oregon). CSA Prepped! aims to increase local, affordable food production and create 20 full-time jobs in the Willamette Valley of Western Oregon, a low-income area that lacks healthy food retail options. You can find more information here.
Source of money: HFFI CED Program
State & Local Policy Efforts
Are you working on a local or state policy effort in this state? Are you involved with a project supported by a federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative grant? 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.