Rancho Cordova Food Locker seeks $2.2 million to open community food hub; council asks staff to explore matching options

Carrie Johnson, executive director of the Rancho Cordova Food Locker, told the council the nonprofit has raised $3.34 million and received a $2.5 million seed award from the state but is short roughly $2.2 million to complete construction and open a grocery‑style community food hub on Don Juan Drive.

“Today, I respectfully request 2,200,000.0 in city support to help us cross the finish line,” Johnson said. The project would merge two properties, add parking and enable a dignified, grocery‑style model of food assistance that includes wrap‑around services such as CalFresh enrollment, nutrition education, and housing referrals.

Councilmembers said they want to support the hub but that the city should use its funds to leverage additional investment rather than fully fund the gap immediately. Several councilmembers suggested matching strategies—using a smaller city commitment to attract federal, state and philanthropic grants—and asked staff to evaluate possible fee waivers, grant matches and other mechanisms to reduce the remaining gap.

Micah (staff member) said city staff had not waived development fees for the project to date and that staff would explore fee deferrals or waivers as part of a broader financing package. No appropriation was made; council asked staff to add the project to the priority list for the two‑year budget and to pursue options for matching and partnership funding.

What happens next: staff will work with the Food Locker to identify potential city actions—fee waivers, partial matching grants or other tools—and return with options and recommended conditions before any city funds are committed.