Urbana officials are taking steps that could bring a grocery store to the city’s north end. On Monday night, the City Council pledged to allocate $800,000 to tackle a food desert in Ward 3.
The money is meant to support an application for the Illinois Grocery Initiative, a program that could provide up to $2.4 million to expand access to fresh produce.
Angela Bradley with the organization Heartstrong Meals is applying for the state grant to help build a grocery store in the neighborhood.
Several city council members expressed gratitude for the efforts to address a longstanding issue in northwest Urbana.
“I really appreciate all the hard work that so many people have done over the years as they’ve tried to bring a grocery store,” said Urbana City Council Member Maryalice Wu. “It’s really nice to be able to see something, you know, hopefully that we can build soon.”
City Administrator Carol Mitten said officials are working with Heartstrong to help make the grocery store a reality.
“We’ll be doing our part to see that they are successful if they are awarded the grant within the means of the city,” Mitten said.
In an effort to strengthen the application, the city also offered sites that could house the new store, including the current site of Urbana’s Fire Station 3 on North Lincoln Avenue.
The deadline to apply for the state grocery store grant is at the beginning of next month. Decisions for the grant program are expected to be announced next year.