Alabama
State & Local Programs
Active: Alabama Healthy Food Financing Initiative (ALHFFI)
In 2017 Alabama’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (ALHFFI) received $300,000 of seed funding from the state to fund healthy food retail projects across the state. Now, $200,000 is available yearly and the program is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). Eligible projects can include the expansion or renovation of grocery stores, installation of cold/freezer equipment in existing stores, mobile grocery vans and delivery, food banks, farmers markets, and other venues that will help to bring healthy foods to families in low-income areas underserved by grocer healthy food retail.
The ALHFFI was created thanks to the work of advocates and legislative leadership. In November 2014, VOICES for Alabama’s Children and the Alabama Grocers Association joined forces to convene the first Alabama Grocery Summit. Fifty state and community leaders in the fight against childhood obesity were brought together to understand the challenges that local grocers face and to discuss a variety of tools that state and local governments could use to address the urgent issue through expanding grocery store investments in underserved communities around the state.
Following the meeting, The Food Trust worked with VOICES for Alabama’s Children on a report, Food for Every Child: The Need for Healthy Food Financing in Alabama, which found that 1.8 million Alabamians, including nearly half a million children, live in areas with limited access to healthy food.
Regional Programs
Forthcoming: Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Funded by America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative through Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, the Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative will serve five states; Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. A partnership between Auburn University, Hope Enterprise Corporation, and Wright Food Solutions, the program will support food retailers, food enterprises, and underserved communities by increasing access to healthy affordable foods, creating quality jobs, and revitalizing under-resourced neighborhoods.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
Arkansas
State & Local Programs
Are you working on a local or state program in Arkansas? Are you involved with a project supported by a federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative grant? Let us know at contact@thefoodtrust.org. We encourage you to tap into your local food system to learn more about food access issues and become an advocate.
Regional Programs
Forthcoming: Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Funded by America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative through Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, the Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative will serve five states; Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. A partnership between Auburn University, Hope Enterprise Corporation, and Wright Food Solutions, the program will support food retailers, food enterprises, and underserved communities by increasing access to healthy affordable foods, creating quality jobs, and revitalizing under-resourced neighborhoods.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
Florida
State & Local Programs
Are you working on a local or state program in Florida? Are you involved with a project supported by a federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative grant? Let us know at contact@thefoodtrust.org. We encourage you to tap into your local food system to learn more about food access issues and become an advocate.
Inactive: Florida Healthy Food Financing Initiative
The Florida Healthy Food Financing Initiative was administered by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) in partnership with the Florida Community Loan Fund from 2016-2020. The program aimed to support food retailers in Low Income Low Access (LILA) tracts and ultimately funded 3 projects. A report from the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability details challenges the program faced regarding sustainability.
Federally Funded Local Lenders (past and present)
Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc.
Florida Community Loan Fund, Inc.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
Georgia
State & Local Programs
Forthcoming: Atlanta Food Access Investment Initiative
Funded by America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative through Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, the Atlanta Food Access Investment Initiative will provide low-interest loans, grants, and tailored technical assistance to food enterprises to enhance food access in Atlanta’s underserved communities. Funds will also go towards community and policy research. The program was awarded $2.97 million and will be administered in partnership by Invest Atlanta and Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE).
Inactive: Georgia Healthy Food Financing Initiative
The Georgia Healthy Food Financing Initiative was a loan program for supermarkets and other food retail outlets in downtown areas underserved by grocery stores. It was administered by Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) and seeded with $500,000 from the Department of Treasury’s CDFI Fund. Funding for the program was sought after The Georgia Supermarket Access Task Force, convened by The Food Trust, the Georgia Family Connection Partnership, and the Georgia Food Industry Association, met over the course of a year to develop public policy recommendations to support supermarkets and other fresh food retail in underserved areas of the state. Learn more about the report which helped establish the task force: Food For Every Child: The Need For More Supermarkets in Georgia.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
Kentucky
State & Local Programs
Are you working on a local or state program in Kentucky? Are you involved with a project supported by a federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative grant? Let us know at contact@thefoodtrust.org. We encourage you to tap into your local food system to learn more about food access issues and become an advocate.
Federally Funded Local Lenders (past and present)
Community Ventures Corporation, Inc.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
Louisiana
State & Local Programs
Are you working on a local or state program in Louisiana? Are you involved with a project supported by a federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative grant? Let us know at contact@thefoodtrust.org. We encourage you to tap into your local food system to learn more about food access issues and become an advocate.
Inactive: New Orleans Fresh Food Retailer Initiative
Storm damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 forced many New Orleans healthy food retailers to close their doors – further exacerbating resident’s struggles to access healthy food. Six-years after Hurricane Katrina, the City of New Orleans launched the Fresh Food Retailer Initiative (FFRI) to increase healthy food access in underserved areas. This program provided direct financial assistance to retail businesses by awarding forgivable and/or low-interest loans to supermarkets and other fresh food retailers. The City partnered with The Food Trust and HOPE Enterprise Corporation (HOPE), a community-development financial institution and Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) grantee, to implement the program. The program was seeded with $7 million of federal Disaster Community Development Block Grant funds that leveraged millions in additional public and private funding for grocery projects.
Regional Programs
Forthcoming: Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Funded by America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative through Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, the Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative will serve five states; Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. A partnership between Auburn University, Hope Enterprise Corporation, and Wright Food Solutions, the program will support food retailers, food enterprises, and underserved communities by increasing access to healthy affordable foods, creating quality jobs, and revitalizing under-resourced neighborhoods.
Inactive: Mid South Healthy Food Initiative
Administered by Hope Enterprise Corporation in partnership with The Food Trust, the Mid South Healthy Food Financing Initiative was a regional healthy food financing program that offered flexible financing for new store development and renovations, as well as training with retailers to promote healthier choices projects across three states in the Mid South region. The initiative started in New Orleans but grew to support grocery projects in urban areas across Mississippi, Louisiana and the greater Memphis area. The program was developed through the support of $3 million in initial seed funding from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, which was leveraged further by the national Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
Federally Funded Local Lenders (past and present)
Project Profiles
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
Mississippi
State & Local Programs
Inactive: Mid South Healthy Food Initiative
Administered by Hope Enterprise Corporation in partnership with The Food Trust, the Mid South Healthy Food Financing Initiative was a regional healthy food financing program that offered flexible financing for new store development and renovations, as well as training with retailers to promote healthier choices projects across three states in the Mid South region. The initiative started in New Orleans but grew to support grocery projects in urban areas across Mississippi, Louisiana and the greater Memphis area. The program was developed through the support of $3 million in initial seed funding from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, which was leveraged further by the national Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
Regional Programs
Forthcoming: Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Funded by America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative through Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, the Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative will serve five states; Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. A partnership between Auburn University, Hope Enterprise Corporation, and Wright Food Solutions, the program will support food retailers, food enterprises, and underserved communities by increasing access to healthy affordable foods, creating quality jobs, and revitalizing under-resourced neighborhoods.
Project Profiles
- Food For Every Child: The Need For More Supermarkets in Mississippi.
- Stimulating Grocery Retail Development in Mississippi: A report of the Mississippi Grocery Access Task Force.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
North Carolina
State & Local Programs
Forthcoming: Growing Food Finance in the Triad
Funded by America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative through Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, Growing Food Finance in the Triad is a partnership between Piedmont Triad Regional Council, Self-Help Ventures Fund and Partner Community Capital. The three organizations will build out a system for healthy food lending in northcentral North Carolina, creating capital access programs and specialized support for businesses that increase access to healthy foods and create jobs.
Inactive: North Carolina Healthy Food Small Retailer Program
Since 2013, the North Carolina Alliance for Health and its members and partners have advocated for the creation of a statewide Healthy Corner Store Initiative. Members and partners include the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, North Carolina Alliance of YMCA’s, MomsRising, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, North Carolina Conservation Network, Youth Empowered Solutions, Self-Help Credit Union, North Carolina Dietetic Association, The Food Trust, and many more. The state budget passed in 2016 included $250,000 to pilot the initiative, formally known as the Healthy Food Small Retailer Program. The 2017 state budget included an additional $250,000 in funding. The program is housed in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The North Carolina Alliance for Health and partners continue to advocate for recurring funds for the program.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
South Carolina
State & Local Programs
Are you working on a local or state program in South Carolina? Are you involved with a project supported by a federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative grant? Let us know at contact@thefoodtrust.org. We encourage you to tap into your local food system to learn more about food access issues and become an advocate.
Inactive: South Carolina Healthy Food Financing Initiative
During the 2016 legislative session, the S.C. General Assembly appropriated $250,000 for the creation of the South Carolina Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). The program sought to increase access to healthy food for the more than one million South Carolina residents who live in food deserts. It was a public-private partnership that supported local farmers and businesses by providing access to loans to support the establishment, renovation or expansion of different food projects, including farm businesses, mobile markets, small food stores, and grocery stores. The program was designed to provide flexible financing for the start-up, rehabilitation or expansion of businesses and nonprofits. To be eligible, applicants seeking financing had to be located in a designated Food Desert Area or Low Supermarket Access Community. Nonprofit organizations, for profit entities, and municipalities were able to apply for funding.
The South Carolina HFFI was administered by the South Carolina Community Loan Fund (SCCLF), a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that has been lending in South Carolina communities since 2007. In addition to originating loans, SCCLF provided technical assistance services to applicants for financial support.
Federally Funded Local Lenders (past and present)
South Carolina Community Loan Fund
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
Tennessee
State & Local Programs
Forthcoming: Knox Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Funded by America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative through Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, the Knox Healthy Food Financing Initiative is a partnership between United Way of Greater Knoxville, The Real Good Kitchen Foundation and Knoxville’s Community Development Corp. The collaborators will launch a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to assist in a Healthy Food Retail and Entrepreneur Assessment and develop the Program for Healthy Food Enterprises and Healthy Food Retail Businesses. Ultimately, the program will offer loans, credit enhancements, and technical assistance to eligible projects increasing access to healthy foods in underserved communities.
Regional Programs
Forthcoming: Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Funded by America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative through Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, the Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative will serve five states; Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. A partnership between Auburn University, Hope Enterprise Corporation, and Wright Food Solutions, the program will support food retailers, food enterprises, and underserved communities by increasing access to healthy affordable foods, creating quality jobs, and revitalizing under-resourced neighborhoods.
Inactive: Mid South Healthy Food Initiative
Administered by Hope Enterprise Corporation in partnership with The Food Trust, the Mid South Healthy Food Financing Initiative was a regional healthy food financing program that offered flexible financing for new store development and renovations, as well as training with retailers to promote healthier choices projects across three states in the Mid South region. The initiative started in New Orleans but grew to support grocery projects in urban areas across Mississippi, Louisiana and the greater Memphis area. The program was developed through the support of $3 million in initial seed funding from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, which was leveraged further by the national Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
Learn more:
- Food For Every Child: The Need for More Supermarkets in Tennessee.
- Stimulating Supermarket Development in Tennessee: A report of the Tennessee Grocery Access Task Force.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
Virginia
State & Local Programs
Active: Virginia Food Access Investment Fund
Funded by the General Assembly in 2020 and administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in partnership with Locus, formerly known as Virginia Community Capital (VCC), the Virginia Food Access Investment Fund provides reimbursable grants up to $50,000 for food retail projects that improve access to fresh foods in low-income areas underserved by grocery access. Additional program goals include supporting local food systems, improving health outcomes in low-access communities, and creating wealth and leadership opportunities in these communities.
Active: Virginia Fresh Food Loan Fund
Locus, formerly known as Virginia Community Capital (VCC), is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and bank that serves the entire commonwealth of Virginia. In 2013, VCC launched the Virginia Fresh Food Loan Fund (VFFLF) to enhance access to nutritious foods in Virginia’s inner cities, small towns and rural communities. In the past ten years, the program has deployed over $40 million to support a range of healthy food enterprises. Visit their website to learn more about financing opportunities.
Federally Funded Local Lenders (past and present)
Learn more
- Portal Profile: Virginia Fresh Food Loan Fund
- Food For Every Child: The Need for Healthy Food Financing in Virginia
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.
West Virginia
State & Local Programs
Forthcoming: Appalachian FoodWorks Partnership
Funded by America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative through Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development, the Appalachian FoodWorks Partnership will develop and deploy grants, loans, and technical assistance to food retail enterprises that increase food access in underserved communities in West Virginia and bordering counties in Central Appalachia. Program partners include the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, West Virginia University, Partner Community Capital, and West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition.
For a full understanding of Healthy Food Financing Initiatives from advocacy to implementation, see The Food Trust’s Healthy Food Financing Handbook.