$3 million food justice plan approved in Pittsburgh
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Teaira Collins has advocated for Pittsburgh officials to dedicate cash to food initiatives with hopes that more fresh food would be available in her neighborhood.
The mother has told City Council members that it’s difficult to find fresh food in the Hill District, which makes it harder to provide healthy foods for her kids.
Her 11-year-old son, Judah, loves to find fresh foods at the grocery store, she said.
“He loves to pick out his own food,” she said. “For us to be able to access these things in our neighborhood would be amazing.”
Collins is one of many food justice advocates who have been pushing City Council to pass a spending plan that would allow them to utilize a food justice fund they created last year.
Last week, City Council unanimously approved a spending plan, clearing the way for the $3 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars in that fund to be put to use.
“We’re really eager to see these funds be moved to strengthen neighborhoods, to strengthen families and to invest in the city’s food infrastructure,” Councilwoman Deb Gross, D-Highland Park, said.
Gross led the push to create the fund during 2023 budget negotiations. She and other advocates said the money would help ensure people had access to fresh food across the city.
None of the money has been spent yet, as officials first needed to approve a plan for how to use the cash.
The spending plan calls for about half of the money to be spent on providing grants ranging from $2,000 to $75,000 each to smaller nonprofits that work on food justice efforts.
The plan also budgets $150,000 for a third-party organization to manage that grant initiative.
The rest of the cash will be used for larger investments, including efforts to improve food access through urban agriculture, community markets and grocery stores or other food-related businesses. Money also could be spent on increasing education outreach and addressing food waste through composting and environmental efforts.
Originally, the plan included about $233,000 to hire a food justice coordinator. An amendment approved before the bill was passed Tuesday will allow for that money to go towards the grant programs. The position will be funded through the city’s operating budget, Gross said.