Local nonprofit pitches grocery store for Ward 3, seeks city support for state grant match

Angela Bradley, chief executive of HeartStrong Meals, told Urbana council members Wednesday she wants to open a grocery store in Ward 3 to address what she called “a food desert in our own community.” Bradley described nearly two decades of food‑pantry and culturally relevant distributions and said residents have requested closer access to fresh food for at least seven years.

Bradley outlined a concept that would be WIC and SNAP friendly, emphasize local and seasonal produce, use meal kits and chef demonstrations to encourage healthy choices, and partner with campus design resources to rethink grocery layout. “I discovered that we have a food desert in our own community,” Bradley said, describing the area’s limited access to fresh…