The New Jersey Economic Development Authority announced recently that it will make $2.5 million in grants available for food retailers to improve food access in food desert communities in the state.
Food retailers can use the funds to purchase and install temperature-controlled lockers in the communities to improve access to high-quality groceries. The grants will cover between 30 to 50 percent of each total project cost, up to $250,000.
“Through the utilization of refrigerated lockers, the [Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant] program will help to increase the availability of nutritious food in [food desert communities] while assisting food retailers to adapt to new business models that can help sustain their businesses,” according to the NJ EDA website.
The hope is that this grant model will enable affected residents to order online and have groceries delivered to a convenient central location without having to travel long distances to reach food retailers.
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