EAST GARFIELD PARK (WBBM Newsradio) -- The city of Chicago's ready to drop some "green" on people who grow greens, through a new grant program aimed at improving fresh food access on the West and South sides.
"Access to fresh and healthy food should not depend on what neighborhood you live in," said Mayor Brandon Johnson, who joined the city's business affairs chief Ivan Capifali Friday morning at "The Hatchery" food and beverage incubator, 135 N. Kedzie Ave., to announce the city's offer of one-time grants totaling $10,000 to local farmers' markets and other small businesses providing fresh food to communities in areas the mayor calls chronically underserved.
"The funds can be used for a range of purposes, from equipment purchases to marketing and outreach," said the mayor. "Whatever they need to succeed and serve our communities.
Capifali added that those businesses are more than just food sellers: "They are neighborhood economic anchors, they create opportunities for local entrepreneurs and farmers, they keep our dollars circulating in our communities and they connect residents to fresh healthy food close to home."
Erasing "food deserts" - communities in which people must travel outside of their area in order to buy fresh and healthy food - has been a constant issue in Chicago. Most recently, all seven "Save-A-Lot" grocery stores on the West and South sides closed back in July after the owners cited, among other things, cuts in federal food assistance. The city has looked at several ways to improve food access in those areas, and briefly looked at opening a city-run grocery store, but the mayor said this grant approach came out of conversations with the people.
"It reaches more people when we can invest in the entrepreneur spirit," he said.
The city's set aside about $500,000 in COVID-19 relief dollars for these grants. Businesses can apply for them until September 25th.
Program intended to boost fresh food offerings on West, South sides
Program intended to boost fresh food offerings on West, South sides
