The problem isn’t just about inconvenience. A number of studies have shown that people living in communities without a supermarket suffer disproportionately from obesity and other related health issues. In addition, opening and operating a supermarket in a city faces several hurdles. Training, security and maintenance costs are considerably higher in urban areas.
To counter the disadvantages, health advocacy groups have been developing state-financed initiatives to attract supermarkets to underserved neighborhoods. The most notable success so far is the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which started in 2004 and used $30 million in state seed money to finance the development of nearly 70 supermarkets and fresh food outlets in urban and rural areas around the state.
Funding for a $35 million federal program called the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, however, could be in trouble. Congress is looking at ways to reduce the budget deficit, and has threatened to cut the program, which also mirrors Pennsylvania’s effort. That would be a shame, say health food advocates, given the ever-growing need around the country for fresh food in city neighborhoods.
http://www.governing.com/columns/urban-notebook/Cities-Access-to-Fresh-Food-Worsens.html
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