The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee on Thursday voted 3-0 to move forward CR-92-2025, a resolution authorizing a six‑month feasibility study to evaluate whether Prince George’s County should establish a county‑owned grocery store pilot.

The committee’s decision followed a briefing from the county policy group and presentations that reviewed a 2015 Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) food system study, national and local case studies and local vendor experience. Committee members amended the draft to replace a reference to the Office of Central Services with the redevelopment authority and the Economic Development Corporation as lead partners before advancing the resolution as amended.

Why it matters: Council members and staff framed the resolution as a way to address persistent gaps in neighborhood access to affordable, healthy food. The study will examine site selection, capital and operating costs, funding sources and operational models, and is intended to identify whether a publicly owned grocery store could operate on a cost‑neutral basis for the county.

Policy group presenter Caleb Callender summarized the resolution’s scope: “So the purpose of CRO 92 is to authorize a feasibility study to to evaluate the potential, for establishing a county owned grocery store.” He reviewed prior county work, noting the MNCPPC’s 2015 food system study had identified six food‑priority areas including Fairmont Heights and Glenarden, and he said the health department maintains an updated food‑priority area map that requires a council resolution to be released publicly.

Budget staff and other presenters described past local experiments: David Noto of the Budget and Policy team said the 2015 study’s metrics are dated and “a lot has changed obviously in the county in terms of development since then.” Callender summarized a local example at Addison Plaza, where a Safeway closed in 2016 and a nonprofit-run market that followed received more than $1 million in public funding but operated only briefly amid funding, permitting and vendor challenges. The briefing also cited public grocery efforts in St. Paul and Tulsa as sustained examples and several other publicly owned stores that later closed.

Small-business perspective: Brandon Starks, founder and CEO of the People’s Market, told the committee his farm‑to‑door delivery business has demonstrated demand for locally produced foods and that access is the primary barrier. “My goal has always been to make high quality locally sourced food accessible to everyone no matter their zip code,” Starks said. He described the People’s Market’s weekly produce box subscriptions, a 55% customer retention rate, more than 3,500 deliveries in 2025 to date, and plans to scale in 2026 with a larger warehouse in Bladensburg and an expanded refrigerated fleet.

Costs and timeline: Committee staff and agency comments in the binder put the study’s cost estimate in a wide range. The county’s Economic Development Corporation estimated the feasibility study would cost between $55,000 and $115,000 depending on scope, while one staff member noted a prior funding set‑aside for a similar study of about $200,000. The resolution authorizes a six‑month study period.

Questions and next steps: Council Member Ivey questioned the food‑priority area designations, citing recent grocery development in some named areas. Policy staff and Sylvia Singleton said the health department’s updated map exists but must be released by resolution to show current conditions. Sponsor Council Vice Chair Orianna called for stakeholder engagement and proposed the amendment replacing the Office of Central Services with the redevelopment authority and the Economic Development Corporation to lead the work.

Vote and action: The amendment to substitute the lead agencies passed on a voice/roll call and was recorded as approved 3-0. The committee then voted 3-0 to move CR-92-2025 favorable as amended.

The committee packet includes the MNCPPC 2015 food system study and comments from the Economic Development Corporation, Office of Central Services, the Soil Conservation District and the Office of Management and Budget. The feasibility study, if funded and scoped per the packet, would return findings on sites, financial viability and potential operational models for the pilot. The resolution does not itself appropriate funds for construction or ongoing operations.