The grants are designed to address food deserts and prevent grocery store closures in Illinois. Credit: Sorbis / Shutterstock.

Illinois governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and local leaders have awarded $7.9m in grants aimed at addressing food deserts and preventing grocery store closures across the US state.

The funding, part of the Illinois Grocery Initiative, is split between the New Stores programme, which received $6.9m; and the Equipment Upgrades Grant Programs, which received $1m.

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This initiative has selected a total of 11 stores to receive financial support, with Harvest Supermarket and Rancho Supermarket among the recipients, receiving $1.66m and $2.10m respectively under the New Stores programme.

Grantees of the Equipment Upgrades Program includes Pearl Market in Alton, Riverside Foods in Riverside and Smalls Meat Market in Marion.

Additionally, Pritzker revealed that a further $11m is available for the second round of the New Stores in Food Deserts Program, which will be allocated through a competitive process.

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The New Stores in Food Deserts Program aims to support the establishment of new grocery stores in areas identified as food deserts by the USDA.

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These grants will cover various costs, including construction, renovation, and first-year operational expenses such as employee wages, utilities, and initial food inventory.

To qualify for the programme, grocery stores must be situated in a food desert, derive less than 30% of their revenue from alcohol and tobacco sales, accept SNAP and WIC, and enhance the diversity of fresh foods in the community.

Eligible applicants include local government units, independent grocers, and cooperatives with less than 500 employees and no more than four locations.

Pritzker said: “No matter where they live, every Illinoisan deserves access to fresh, affordable food at a local grocery store, a resource that is essential for maintaining the physical, mental, and financial health of our state’s residents.

“We’re supporting the opening and maintenance of local grocery stores as part of our mission to end food deserts in Illinois and provide economic and community development for towns and neighbourhoods across the state.”