Illinois Launches Food Desert Grant Program

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined food justice advocates and local stakeholders to unveil a grant program from the Illinois Grocery Initiative, Tuesday. The New Stores in Food Deserts Program will offer competitive grants to encourage the establishment of new grocery stores in USDA-defined food deserts.

Paired with the Equipment Upgrades Program, the initiatives represent a $20 million effort to address food deserts and prevent grocery store closures in Illinois. The grants will fund construction and renovation for new stores, as well as many first-year operation costs, such as employee wages, utility costs, initial inventory of food, and more.

"The truth is: too many people live in food deserts, and it's contributing to an ongoing public health crisis. As we celebrate the launch of our second Illinois Grocery Initiative grant program today, we aim to support local entrepreneurs and communities as they open new grocery stores in food deserts," said Governor Pritzker in a statement. "This is a first-of-its-kind state government investment—and it will have a significant impact on under-served rural towns and urban neighborhoods dealing firsthand with the struggles of food access."

Awards range between $160,000 and $2.4 million, with a 1:3 match requirement from businesses.

Eligible grocery stores must be in a food desert, earn less than 30 percent of revenue from alcohol and tobacco sales, accept SNAP and WIC, and promote fresh food diversity to the community. Qualified entities include units of local government and independent grocers or cooperatives with fewer than 500 employees and no more than four grocery locations.

"The Equipment Upgrades Program and New Stores in Food Deserts Program are perfect examples of the good government can do. Every community—urban and rural—deserves access to fresh, nutrient-dense, and culturally relevant food," said Lt. Governor Stratton in a statement. "1 in 4 Illinoisans live in a food desert, many crossing county or even state lines to reach the nearest grocery store. Incentivizing local, independent grocers is a way to help eliminate food deserts and that is a win-win for everyone."