With more than 23 million Americans without access to healthy foods, the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) is desperately needed to reduce obesity and bring needed jobs and investment to low-income urban and rural communities.

The HFFI combines one-time loan and grant financing to leverage private investment with public funds. HFFI is modeled after a successful program in Pennsylvania in which a $30 million investment by the state led to $190 million in total project costs, and resulted in 83 markets in underserved communities across the state, improved access to healthy food for more than 400,000 people, and more than 5,000 jobs.

Since this campaign began, congressional appropriations subcommittees have taken giant steps to support the HFFI. The President's FY 2012 Budget Proposal for HFFI requested $330 million dollars from three agencies - USDA, Treasury, and HHS -- to provide loan and grant financing to attract grocery stores and other fresh food retail to underserved urban, suburban, and rural areas; and renovate and expand existing stores so they can provide the healthy foods that communities want and need.

Congress needs to hear from you know that funding the Healthy Food Financing Initiative is a priority.