Cincinnati City Council approved an emergency ordinance authorizing a one-time transfer from the general fund discretionary reserve to fund a grocery delivery pilot for Winton Hills.

Council member Albee introduced the item, saying the pilot has two goals: increasing grocery access and “putting dollars in pockets” to help residents pay for groceries. She said Winton Hills was chosen because its food insecurity rate is notably higher than the city average and the neighborhood has limited transportation options. “This grocery assistance program is gonna be piloted in Winton Hills, which is one of our neighborhoods that ... their rate of food insecurity is, I think, three times the rate our average rate of the city,” Council member Albee said.

The council discussed the program as part of the Financial Freedom blueprint and thanked city staff and partners working on contracting and implementation. Mayor Aftab Pureval and others thanked Council member Albee and staff for advancing the pilot. The measure was adopted by roll call and passed as an emergency; yes votes were recorded from the council members present as shown in the meeting roll calls and the ordinance will move to the administration for implementation.

The pilot is described by council as a combination of direct grocery delivery and payment assistance; specific vendor, per-household benefit amount, eligibility rules, and program timeline were not specified in the discussion and will be determined during contracting and implementation. Council members asked staff to continue developing contract terms and other operational details before launch.

Council members framed the pilot as a response to rising food costs and federal SNAP uncertainty and said the administration will be responsible for next steps, including a contract and rollout plan.

City staff were thanked for their work in drafting the ordinance and for ongoing coordination; no additional appropriation beyond the one-time transfer was approved during the meeting.