Several years ago ago I took my family to New York City. (and took the below photo).
Even amidst the chaos of protecting my 4 young children from darting out in
to oncoming traffic – we absolutely loved the City.
We loved the walk-ability of City life –
that you could walk down a block to a grocery store and get all of your household needs.
I love downtown Grand Rapids.
(Below, photo I took this morning from my office)
If Grand Rapids wants to encourage urban living, it needs to continue to support growth in downtown grocery stores.
This is not a novel concept.
There has been recent exciting development in Grand Rapids on this front – see Meijer opening a grocery store on Bridge Street.
Also, Russo’s International Market opened last year as well.
“Neighborhood and Commercial Corridor Food Initiative” – Public Act 229
Last March, House Bill 4207 was introduced in the Michigan house. Known as the “Urban Food Initiative.” (re-named “Neighborhood and commercial corridor food initiative”)
This Bill intended to provide incentives for community revitalization that would include a downtown Grocery Store.
Specifically, HB 4027 would make “Urban Food Initiatives” allowable to receive funds under the Michigan Community Revitalization Program
Passed into Law
On December 28th this House Bill was given immediate effect and assigned as Public Act 229 .
The law provides incentives to “new neighborhood” food initiatives. That is why, per the new law:
“a new neighborhood and commercial corridor food initiative…is not eligible for a community revitalization incentive if it is located within 1 mile of an existing retail supermarket, grocery store, or produce market…that offers unprocessed USDA-inspected meat and poultry products or meat products that carry the USDA organic seal, fresh fruits and vegetables, and dairy products for sale to the public.”
Hopefully this law will spur development of urban grocery stores in Grand Rapids, and beyond to places like Detroit. There is wonderful community development work going on right now in Detroit, as the article below highlights.
Healthy Food Options – Essential for Urban Living
Clearly having available and healthy food options in a downtown are necessary to City living. Check out this recent article from Non-Profit Quarterly about Communities of Color Developing Residents-Owned Groceries.
According to the Article:
“Grocery stores…often anchor “neighborhood economies, recirculating local revenues through wages and nearby businesses. They can also be neighborhood hubs, where people go to buy good food as well as employment centers and sources of community pride.”
“Alas, the lack of these hubs can be damaging, notes Malik Yakini, who directs the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. Yakini is one of a host of activists across the country who are working to foster community ownership of food businesses in communities of color.”
We should be encouraging Malik Yakini and others and supporting community ownership of food businesses in communities of color. Hopefully the new law will attract such local ownership.
Parting Thoughts
A downtown grocery store is necessary if a City wants to attract urban living – it is also necessary to provide healthy food options for those living downtown without readily available transportation.
I think particularly of the under-employed and the homeless who receive services from organizations like Mel Trotter Ministries. In Grand Rapids, we are confronted everywhere with the need for Affordable Housing. It would be great to see grocery options as well.
I am also encouraged by the many businesses in West Michigan honestly asking the question: “How am I building a better community?”
e-mail: Jeshua@dwlawpc.com
Twitter: @JeshuaTLauka
Purpose Driven General Counsel 