Louisiana’s Healthy Food Retail Program
Louisiana’s Healthy Food Retail Program (HFRP) created by Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority (LAFA) is an innovative financing program created to award low-interest loans to supermarkets, grocery stores, and other fresh food retailers that are located in or plan to locate in a low-to-moderate income area in parishes of Louisiana affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. These loans will enable operators to open, renovate or expand retail outlets that sell fresh fruit and vegetables.
The goal is to increase access to affordable healthy foods and to promote the sale and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables; particularly those that are Louisiana grown and support expanded economic opportunities in low-income and rural communities.
HOPE, Market Umbrella and The Food Trust are partners in administering this Louisiana statewide program, which meets the financing needs of food markets in communities where infrastructure costs and credit needs cannot be filled solely by conventional financial institutions. Under the HFRP program, HOPE will provide loans for, equipment, equipment installations and upgrades. Market Umbrella and The Food Trust will evaluate applications to determine eligibility for the program.
This initiative was created in response to the lack of fresh, healthy foods in low income communities and rural areas in affected parishes, a problem exacerbated by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and growing evidence that supermarket access reduces the risk of developing diet-related diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The HFRP will directly benefit low- and moderate-income residents in affected parishes by providing healthy food access, creating jobs, and revitalizing neighborhoods.
If you are interested in this program, you may contact HOPE by phone at 504-585-2860 or via email at hfrp@hopecu.org.
