The city’s economic development arm, Invest Atlanta, has issued a request to developers and supermarket operators on how to attract more “fresh, affordable grocery options.”
According to a press release issued by Invest Atlanta, the organization is seeking information from qualified developers and retail grocery operators on how to bring more options to “low income, low access communities” – also known as food deserts.
“Too many residents face food insecurity in their daily lives, which is why our Administration continues to prioritize investments in programs that bring healthy, affordable food options to every Atlanta neighborhood,” Mayor Andre Dickens said in the press release. “All residents deserve to live close to healthy food options, a goal we are committed to accomplishing with our public and private partners.”
The input collected from developers and grocery operators through the request for information process will be considered for new programming and to further the city’s grocery and health foods strategy which focuses on:
- Attracting major supermarkets and grocery stores
- Retaining, expanding, and improving corner and neighborhood markets
- Supporting innovative food access models
- Driving policy, systems, and environment change
“The United States Department of Agriculture reports that in 2022 nearly one in five households faced food insecurity, an unacceptable fact we must continue to address,” Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, said in the release. “Innovation and partnerships like this request for information is designed to create are key to finding new, impactful opportunities to increase access to affordable healthy food in our communities.”
Health professionals suggest that affordable access to healthy food is critical not just to preventing and treating diet-related health conditions, but also to building thriving communities, strong local economies, and sustainable food systems.
Find out more about the request for information at this link: Request for Information (RFI): Developers and Grocery Operators Input.
