Albany bill would provide $50M annually to incentivize grocery stores in underserved communities

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has announced her Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act, legislation that Gillibrand said aims to help end food deserts. 

If passed, Gillibrand’s legislation would provide $50 million annually in mandatory federal funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). HFFI is a USDA program that offers loans and grants to incentivize grocery stores to establish locations in underserved communities, such as Albany’s South End, which has not consistently had a single large grocery store since the 1990s, according to a release from Gillibrand. She is also calling for $25 million for HFFI to be included in the upcoming government funding bill. 

Gillibrand was joined by Congressman Paul Tonko, Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Assemblymember Phil Steck, Assemblymember Pat Fahy, and Assemblymember John McDonald.  

“An easily accessible grocery store is a basic necessity, but for decades, the residents of the South End haven’t had consistent access to one,” said Gillibrand. “That means that they have to travel miles outside their neighborhood just to buy staple groceries, and for residents without a car, that can mean a multi-hour journey by foot or public transit. It’s unacceptable. USDA’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative is a critical public-private partnership that provides grocers with financial incentives to establish locations in these underserved communities, and for years, the program has successfully brought fresh food to areas that need it, including right here in the Capital Region.” 

In New York State, HFFI has provided financial or technical assistance to four fresh food retailers in Troy, Rochester, Buffalo, and Brooklyn, as well as dozens more nationwide. A full list of recipients is available here.