TOPEKA, April 17, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Kansas Director Christy Davis today announced that USDA is partnering with Reinvestment Fund to help organizations strengthen local food financing programs and improve access to healthy foods in rural Kansas.
“Affordable, fresh, and healthy food should be available regardless of where you live,” Davis said. “The USDA is working to strengthen local and regional food systems so affordable, locally grown foods are available closer to home.”
Reinvestment Fund has selected Kansas State University’s Kansas Healthy Food Initiative partnership to receive a $3 million grant under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Local & Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program to expand access to nutritious and affordable foods.
This announcement is part of a larger national announcement that includes projects in 19 other states and Washington D.C. The details of the Kansas project are:
- A $2,997,242 grant will help Kansas State University’s Kansas Healthy Food Initiative, a public-private partnership that aims to increase access to affordable, healthy food to improve the health and economic development of Kansans and their communities. Other partnership organizations include NetWork Kansas, IFF, Kansas Health Foundation and The Food Trust.
Background
Many low-income communities lack adequate, affordable access to healthy food. HFFI provides grants and loans to entities that offer healthy foods in communities that are underserved by grocery stores and other food retailers. The program increases access to healthy foods, provides new market opportunities for farmers and ranchers, stabilizes small and independent retailers, and creates good-paying jobs and economic opportunity in low-income communities.
Through the HFFI, USDA partners with Reinvestment Fund to bring healthy food options to underserved rural, urban and Tribal communities. Reinvestment Fund serves as the National Fund Manager for USDA. It raises capital; provides financial and technical assistance to regional, state and local partnerships; and helps fund projects to improve access to fresh, healthy foods in underserved areas.
In August 2023, Reinvestment Fund expanded America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative to include the new HFFI Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
