Akron group awarded US Conference of Mayors prize to seed Summit Fresh mobile market; city to accept grant and provide startup support

A community-led nonprofit effort to operate a Summit Fresh Mobile Market in Akron received a first-place award in the U.S. Conference of Mayors prevention and environmental health competition for mid-sized cities, and the administration asked the health and social services committee to accept and expend the award funds as seed startup support.

City sustainability and mayor’s office staff described the project as a mobile full-service grocery that would bring fresh produce, frozen and refrigerated items, dairy and pantry goods to neighborhoods designated as food deserts. City staff said they helped connect organizers to community partners, supported pilot events at neighborhood sites and assisted the group in applying for the award. The presenter stated the award was for $75,000 to be provided as startup funding to Summit Fresh Mobile Market.

Summit Fresh leaders described the mobile market as a dignity-based, low-cost grocery experience: shoppers enter the vehicle to pick fresh produce and other items and may use multiple payment methods including SNAP; shoppers who cannot enter the vehicle will have a grocery-list/personal-shopper option. Organizers said seeds of the idea came from a similar program in Mahoning County (Youngstown area), which provided operational guidance and has been a partner in pilots.

Organizers said they plan to operate a weekly Saturday market (11 a.m.–2 p.m.) at community centers, senior buildings and partner sites, and to use volunteers (including bus drivers and others) to help staff the operation. The startup budget discussed included vehicle acquisition (Mahoning County’s truck was offered for sale to the Akron group and would be rewrapped), staffing, promotion and initial working capital for inventory. Organizers told the committee they already had additional philanthropic commitments totaling about $60,000 toward the initiative and are pursuing a sustainable mix of earned revenue (sales) and philanthropic and partner support for ongoing operations.

Committee members and councilors strongly praised the idea and asked staff to publicize schedules and volunteer opportunities; the committee voted to suspend rules and accept the award so Summit Fresh could move quickly on startup tasks. Staff said the award funds will be used for start-up costs, vehicle acquisition and promotion and that the city will continue to help connect the organizers to partners and resources.