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PRESIDENT’ S MESSAGE
t h e a s s o c i at i on wo rk i ng f o r yo u
ELLE SMOTHERMAN TAYLOR
PRESIDENT
ALABAMA GROCERS ASSOCIATION
One such issue has been food deserts or
underserved areas throughout the state of
Alabama.
Not only is this an issue in our state, but
this is an issue nationwide that much
research and effort has been dedicated
to help the citizens of our country,
particularly those that are the most
vulnerable.
In November 2014, our Association in
conjunction with Voices for Alabama’s
Children and the Joseph S. Bruno
Foundation, held a Food
Summit to discuss the
possibility of Healthy Food
Financing in Alabama and how
we could use a variety of tools
to bring this to our state.
Over 40 representatives
from the grocery industry,
government and non-profit
sector were in attendance.
Through research and working
with The Food Trust a report
was created showing over 1.8
million Alabama residents,
including nearly half a million
children live in lower-income
communities underserved by
grocery stores.
All this pre-work served as the
catalyst to SB260, the Healthy
Food Financing Act, sponsored
by Senator Greg Reed. This bill passed
in the 2015 Legislative Session and will
provide financing for food retailers in low
to moderate income areas of urban and
rural Alabama.
It also provides as a vehicle for private
and public funding as well as the
ability to receive federal grant funding
and is housed under ADECA, the
Alabama Department of Economic and
Community Affairs.
Projects eligible for financing include
construction of new grocery stores as
well as store renovations, expansion and
infrastructure upgrades that improve the
ability and quality of fresh produce and
other healthy foods.
Financing can be used for site acquisition
and preparation, construction and build-
out costs, equipment and furnishings,
workforce training and security, pre-
development costs such as market studies
and appraisals, energy efficiency measures
and working capital for first-time
inventory and start-up costs.
So now that SB260 passed in 2015, where
do we go from here?
We need to get it funded. In 2016, we
passed resolution SJR105, to create
the Healthy Food Financing Study
Commission.
There are many projects the Association works on
during the year. In some cases, it takes several years
for a project to come to Fruition.
AGA President Elle Smotherman Taylor addresses Food
Summit on the possibility of Healthy Food Financing in
Alabama.
| ALABAMA GROCER
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