Program Purpose
New York State announced the creation of the Healthy Food/Healthy Communities Initiative in 2009 in response to rising concern over the lack of access to affordable, nutritious, fresh food in underserved communities.

The New York Healthy Food & Healthy Communities Fund is a $30 million statewide program created to provide grants and loans for food markets in those communities.  By providing financing to supermarket and grocery operators, the program will increase the availability of nutritious food choices for the 1.7 million New Yorkers who lack access to stores with healthy food options.  

Program Highlights
The innovative program is two-fold - it meets the financing needs of market operators that plan to operate in these communities and do not have access to financing through the conventional credit market.
 
It also supports the direct development of jobs. It will assist market operators in low-income neighborhoods who do not have the access to financing to bring nutritious foods to those in need, enhance distribution for New York State growers and create new markets and retail jobs.

Eligibility
The New York Healthy Food & Healthy Communities Fund program is open to food markets in New York State that are located in underserved areas, defined as one of the following:

• a low- or moderate-income census tract
• a census tract with below average food market density
• a food market site with a customer base of 50% or more living in a low-income census tract

Partners
Public Partners
Empire State Development
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Capital Partners
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
New York State Health Foundation

Fund Administrators
Low Income Investment Fund
The Reinvestment Fund
Food Access Partner
The Food Trust

Contact Information
For more information, please email the Low Income Investment Fund or contact them at:
350 Broadway, Suite 701
New York, NY 10013
(212) 509-5509 ext. 16