– Illinois Governor Pritzker commits a $20 million investment to aid food deserts.
– The investment will support existing grocery stores and encourage new ones in underprivileged areas.
– The announcement took place in the food desert town of Venice, Metro East.
Illinois Steps Up to Tackle Food Deserts
Pritzker’s Pledge to Food Deserts
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker makes a substantial investment in the state’s food desert crisis, committing a whopping $20 million. He announced this generous pledge in the small town of Venice in Metro East, which entirely resides within a food desert.
Injecting Funds into Grocery Infrastructure
The capital will serve dual purposes. Part of it will go towards replenishing the resources and bolstering the operations of existing grocery stores struggling amidst the harsh desert environment. Simultaneously, it will fuel the inception of new food stores in deprived urban and rural areas. In essence, the $20 million is a significant injection into the state’s grocery infrastructure and a step towards food security.
The Breezy Take
Governor Pritzker’s $20 million investment is a step in the right direction to address food insecurity in Illinois, particularly within areas recognized as food deserts. By aiding existing stores and encouraging the set up of new ones, not only does the investment aim to increase accessibility to fresh produce for residents, but it also stimulates local economies and boosts job creation. A food-secure Illinois is indeed within reach. Let’s hope that this move prompts other states, especially those facing similar issues, to take similar actions.
Original article: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2023-08-18/gov-pritzker-signs-a-20-million-proposal-into-law-to-help-eradicate-food-deserts