Elections Journalism Fellowship

The City of Milwaukee's Fresh Food Access Fund (FFAF) is a 2024 grant program designed to enhance healthy food access in underserved communities. While not explicitly a foundation, the City of Milwaukee's initiative aligns with a broader mission of public health and community well-being, specifically addressing food insecurity and promoting healthier lifestyles among its residents. The program serves as a direct intervention to mitigate disparities in food access within the city. The primary target beneficiaries of the FFAF are residents of underserved communities in Milwaukee who lack adequate access to fresh, healthy food. The impact goals are multi-faceted, aiming to not only increase the availability of fresh food but also to foster community partnerships and support local food-related businesses. The program directly addresses issues identified in the Milwaukee Fresh Food Access Report, indicating a data-driven approach to community needs. The FFAF prioritizes capital expenditures for projects that establish, expand, or improve food-related businesses. This includes a wide range of eligible uses, such as purchasing equipment for food storage and preparation, acquiring furniture and initial inventory for healthy food businesses, developing space for food retail or production, and improving transportation for healthy food. Strategic priorities include attracting grocery stores and mobile markets, developing other retail outlets, increasing the stock of fresh foods in corner stores, boosting the availability of locally grown food, meeting special dietary needs, and improving transportation to food sources. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in fresh food availability and improved access for underserved residents. The FFAF provides 1:1 matching grants, covering up to 50% of cash expenditures up to $25,000, which incentivizes significant project investment. Awards of less than $5,000 are also considered, demonstrating flexibility. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)3 registration and for-profit businesses, ensuring a broad reach for implementation. The program's theory of change posits that by financially supporting the infrastructure and operations of businesses that provide fresh food, the accessibility and consumption of healthy food options within underserved communities will significantly improve, leading to better public health outcomes.