Fresh Food Financing Initiative Brings Another Grocer to New Orleans
HOPE Part of Continuing Effort to Address Access to Healthy Foods
NEW ORLEANS, LA—HOPE has joined New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and The Food Trust to announce major funding from the New Orleans Fresh Food Retailer Initiative (FFRI) for a redevelopment project at Broad and Bienville streets focused on community health and economic development that will be anchored by a 25,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market. The project is being developed by Broad Community Connections, a nonprofit organization working to revitalize Broad Street from Tulane Avenue to Bayou Road, and L+M Development Partners, a developer of affordable, mixed-income, and market-rate housing.
The 60,000-square-foot property at Broad and Bienville is the former site of a Schwegmann’s supermarket and Robert’s Fresh Market. Whole Foods Market confirmed that it plans to open a store there that will be one component of a larger project and to hire approximately 80 to 100 people. The City is actively supporting the developers as they work to close on financing and bring the project to fruition. “HOPE is excited about this latest success in our efforts to foster healthy lifestyles and economic development in communities like those along the Broad corridor,” said HOPE CEO Bill Bynum. “In addition to the nutritious food available here, the infrastructure improvements and jobs created will also contribute to the improved health and vitality of the area.”
FFRI is offering a loan of $1 million to Broad Community Connections, of which, up to $500,000 will be forgivable.
“Awarding this FFRI loan is an important step toward promoting a better quality of life for residents in this Mid City neighborhood and fostering healthier lifestyle habits for all of our citizens,” said Mayor Landrieu. “Projects like this create jobs, generate taxes, bring vacant properties back into commerce and reinvigorate neighborhoods. We look forward to more fresh food store openings in neighborhoods throughout our city.”
The FFRI, launched in March 2011, plans to award $14 million worth of low-cost, flexible financing to enable vendors to open, renovate or expand retail outlets that sell fresh fruits and vegetables in lower-income areas of the city where access to fresh foods has been lacking. The City previously announced FFRI awards to the iconic Circle Food Market in the Seventh Ward and DaFresh Seafood Market in Central City.
To fund the FFRI, the City is providing $7,000,000 in Disaster-Community Development Block Grant funds, which are matched by HOPE. In addition, the City is partnering on the initiative with The Food Trust, a national non-profit organization with a track record for administering innovative approaches to expanding access to fresh foods in Pennsylvania and New York.
The Food Trust executive director Yael Lehmann said, “We look forward to continuing our work with the New Orleans community to revitalize the health of its residents and the health of its neighborhoods.”
“Access to fresh foods and produce is vital to improving the health of our residents. The FFRI program is improving the quality of life for our residents and will make New Orleans a healthier city,” said City Health Commissioner Dr. Karen DeSalvo.
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About the Fresh Food Retailer Initiative
Launched in March 2011, the New Orleans Fresh Food Retailer Initiative (FFRI) is an effort to expand access to healthy food at affordable prices, provide quality employment opportunities for New Orleans citizens and serve as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. New or existing stores funded through the FFRI program must demonstrate a commitment to the sale of fresh produce by dedicating significant shelf space to fruits and vegetables.
Applicants must plan to either open a self-service supermarket or other grocery retail outlet primarily selling fresh produce, seafood, meat, dairy and other groceries; renovate and substantially improve a store’s ability to stock and sell a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables; or develop a real estate project that will lease space to a grocery retail tenant.