Capital plan will include $1M in healthy food access funding

Gov. Charlie Baker has included $1 million in funding for the Massachusetts Food Trust Program in the fiscal 2018 capital plan, expanding low income families’ access to healthy groceries.

The Massachusetts Food Trust would provide loans, grants, and technical assistance to support new and expanded healthy food retailers and local food enterprises in low and moderate income communities. Research shows that access to grocery stores is linked to lower rates of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases. 

Funding will support new and expanded healthy food retailers and local food enterprises in low and moderate income communities. The plan focuses on maintaining and modernizing government assets and will lead to more than $4 billion in investments beginning July 1.

This is a huge victory after over 5 years of advocacy from our many partners and advocates. We are also pleased that senior staff in the Baker administration confirmed that the Massachusetts Food Trust Program is a top priority and that they are excited and committed to getting the program launched this year.

A 2017 analysis revealed that lack of available grocery stores in Massachusetts impacts 2.8 million residents, or nearly 40 percent of the state’s population, including more than 700,000 children. Communities hit hardest include small, rural towns and Gateway Cities, such as Chelsea, Springfield, Taunton, Everett, Revere, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Brockton, and Chicopee.

The Massachusetts Food Trust will use public seed funds to spur significant private investment, drive economic growth, and create strong local job opportunities. Projects eligible for funding include grocery stores, corner stores, farmers’ markets, mobile markets, community kitchens, food co-ops, food truck commissaries, indoor and outdoor greenhouses, and food distribution hubs.