Learn more about successful projects and research studies advancing healthy food access in the community:
Federal Policy Efforts (State-specific)
Cooperative Fund of New England
The Cooperative Fund of New England (CFNE) is using HFFI financing to increase healthy food access in New England and eastern New York State through the Healthy Food/Cooperative Communities initiative, which combines financing, development services, technical assistance, and data collection and measurement to increase low-income consumers’ utilization and membership in co-ops. This work led five food co-ops in the past year to start implementing new programs to better serve low-income communities. For example, HFFI financing supported the start-up capital expenses of the Fertile Underground Grocery Food Cooperative in Providence, Rhode Island. You can find more information here.
Source of money: HFFI CDFI-Financial Assistance Program
Note: The Cooperative Fund of New England is a CDFI headquartered inMassachusetts that is working throughout New England and eastern New York State.
NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley
Formerly Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation, NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (NWBRV) in Rhode Island will use HFFI funds to develop commercial real estate at 719/727 Front and 40 South Main Streets in Woonsocket in order to create space for two new businesses and seven micro‐business start‐ups. These start‐ups include: a historic diner, a public market (to house several micro‐businesses), a function facility adjacent to the City’s Museum of Work and Culture, and an infant childcare business. They will all be located in real estate already owned by NWBRV. NWBRV is collaborating with a certified CDFI, Community Housing Capital which is a National Lender, to provide additional project financing and the project is located in Rhode Island, a state without an active CED Project as identified in the Funding Opportunity Description. 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.