Grants and competitive loans are available to fund healthy food initiatives in the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods.
The
Healthy Food Challenge will award up to $250,000 in grants to projects addressing one or more aspects of healthy food education, fresh food retail or food-related micro-businesses. there also is a combined loan opportunity of $1 million that has been established to support new retail.
"By combining grants and loan dollars, we recognize that no single strategy, in isolation, will effectively address the complex challenge of providing healthy food access in our low-income communities," says Paul Washington, executive director of the Denver Office of Economic Development, which is heading the challenge. "The Healthy Food Challenge is intended to inspire new and creative solutions to a key community issue. We're very excited to leverage off of other significant investments being made in these neighborhoods by the city and partner with the nonprofit and private sectors in pursuit of mutually aligned interests."
Grants are available to governmental, educational or nonprofit organizations or agencies engaged in a public service within the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods. Private, for-profit organizations engaged in food retail, food distribution and micro-business development support for target businesses may also apply.
A pre-bid meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 16 at the Swansea Recreation Center, 2650 E. 49th Ave. Proposals are due by 4 p.m. on April 11.
Contact Confluence Denver Development News Editor Margaret Jackson with tips and leads for future stories at margaret@confluence-denver.com.
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