National Food Plan to Target “Food Deserts”

U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) is reportedly poised to introduce legislation authored by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D N.Y.) that would provide $1 billion in loans and grants to help build nearly 2,100 grocery stores in areas around the nation that lack access to “fresh, nutritious” food. The Healthy Food Financing Initiative would reportedly create an estimated 200,000 new jobs nationally, including an estimated 26,000 in New York City.

“Low-income communities face higher incidences of obesity and diabetes, and a big part of the problem is the lack of access to healthy foods,” Velázquez was quoted as saying. “This initiative is about empowering families to make healthier food choices so they live longer.” See Press Release of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, April 12, 2010.