Committee backs $200,000 for grocery store predevelopment in food‑insecure corridors

Council Vice President Wansley introduced a revised Amendment 31 allocating $200,000 from the Great Streets Fund to support predevelopment activities for new grocery stores in areas identified as experiencing high food insecurity. The motion passed on a roll call vote, 8–4.

Wansley said the dollars are strictly for predevelopment and will only be released to qualifying organizations (nonprofits, community development financial institutions) that demonstrate matching funds. She told the committee her office and partners had been in discussions with potential community-based partners and noted that the Great Streets Fund—s geography limits eligible corridors.

Several council members questioned whether the money should instead go to sustain existing neighborhood grocers. Council Member Vitale and others said struggling stores such as North Market might benefit more. CPED Director Eric Hansen said $200,000 would not be sufficient to open a new grocery store by itself but could support re-tenanting or predevelopment work and would have to leverage other funding, and that practical approaches would seek existing suitable retail spaces rather than new construction.

Proponents said the amendment targets places with no proximate grocery access and that the RFP process would define eligibility and prioritize organizations with demonstrated capacity. Opponents argued the city should consider supporting existing community grocers. The roll call was recorded with 8 ayes and 4 nays. The chair declared the motion carries.

What happens next: CPED will design an RFP and eligibility criteria; any release of the $200,000 will be contingent on qualifying applicants providing matching funds and meeting CPED—s predevelopment requirements.