This study examines the long-term impact of the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI) on rural grocery stores. The Reinvestment Fund gathered information from store owners on how FFFI financing had affected their ability to access credit, stay in business, carry new lines of products (including fresh foods and produce) and stimulate economic activity in their communities.

Lafayette Market, a 10,000 square-foot grocery store is set to open December 2012. It will offer fresh produce, a café, a fresh meat counter and more. Federal money from the Neighborhood Stabilization 2 and New Markets and Historic Tax Credit programs, as well as the Michigan Magnet Fund, state historic tax credits, brownfield tax credits and private lenders helped pay for the renovation of the building at North Saginaw and Lafayette.

Drawing from his new book, “Local Dollars, Local Sense:  How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street,” Michael Shuman explains a dozen, low-cost strategies local businesses are using to secure new capital from the general public.  He talks about specialized bank CD programs, prepurchase deals, new-generation cooperatives, internet sponsorship sites (like Kickstarter), P2P lenders (like Prosper and Kiva), community lending circles, investment clubs, municipal bond schemes, local revolving loan funds, direct public offerings, and local stock exchanges.

U.S. Bank, The California Endowment, NCB Capital Impact, and other community leaders celebrated the grand opening of Northgate Gonzalez Markets. The new supermarket, which brings healthy foods and new, local employment opportunities to the area's 105,000-plus residents, is the latest example of U.S. Bank's commitment to finance businesses that increase fresh, affordable food availability..

In order to improve access to healthy food and improve the negative health consequences associated with living in food deserts, 12 states (including Illinois and Michigan) have passed legislation since 2001. Seven others (including Nebraska and Ohio) have introduced bills that are pending or did not pass.

Social Compact is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization formed by coalition of business leaders from across the country committed to promoting successful investment in lower-income communities. Working in close partnership with community and corporate leaders over the past decade and a half, they have pioneered a methodology to analyze inner-city markets and create accurate, business-oriented profiles of “emerging” neighborhood markets.

A Senate bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish in the Department of Agriculture a Healthy Food Financing Initiative.

Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. The 2020 agenda is that latest report and reflects input from a diverse group of individuals and organizations.

A House bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to
establish in the Department of Agriculture a Healthy Food Financing
Initiative.

The Food Trust strives to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food. Representatives from the group briefed the Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture about Maryland’s food deserts and the resulting healthy food financing initiative. Food deserts have been identified in rural areas, like Dorchester County, as well as urban areas, like Baltimore City.