To reduce food deserts in the community, the Commission approved $1 million for the Economic and Community Development Department to use as a revolving loan fund as part of its Small Business Development Assistance Program. As a revolving loan fund, the businesses would eventually have to pay the money back, meaning this program could operate for many years to come.
This program would incentivize brick-and-mortar grocery stores to open in areas classified as food deserts. Businesses could only qualify for these loans if they plan to open in qualified census tracts, and the money would go towards start-up and construction costs. Once those applications are available, they will be posted online, and announcements will be sent to the public.
Commissioners also approved $500,000 as loans for neighborhood distribution services, including food delivery services and pop-up farmers’ markets. Businesses would also need to go through the Economic and Community Development Department to apply for the loans. Once those applications are available, they will be posted online, and announcements will be sent to the public.
In another effort to make food accessible to everyone, $1 million was approved for the Middle Georgia Food Bank. This money is being used as a match for $3 million being received from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
According to Middle Georgia Food Bank President and CEO Laura McCollum, this money would help them increase their ability to distribute food to people in need and to reach more people. During the height of the pandemic, the Food Bank saw an increase in people needing food, as many jobs in our community were laying people off.