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House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	February 5, 2021 07:41 PM
From:	Representative Stephen Kinsey and Rep. Morgan Cephas, Rep. Danilo Burgos
To:	All House members
Subject:	Fresh Food Financing Initiative

Research suggests that people living near full-service grocery stores tend to have healthier diets, including higher intakes of fruits and vegetables and lower levels of obesity. However, residents in low-income and rural neighborhoods, where grocery stores are scarce, rely more on small corner grocery stores with little stock and no produce. In an effort to provide more fresh food purchasing options to residents in underserved areas, we will be introducing legislation that would re-establish the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative. This program, which operated from 2004 to 2010, would once again provide grants and low-interest loans for the construction, rehabilitation, or expansion of grocery stores, farmers markets, and other healthy food retail establishments in low- to moderate-income areas in need and other underserved communities. Restarting this program would allow us to help people who suffer from hunger and malnourishment, while also improving the quality of fresh produce and promoting local agricultural products throughout the Commonwealth. Please join us in supporting this important legislation.

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