Relief In The Works For 'Food Deserts,' Food Insecurity In NJ

NEW JERSEY - The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is seeking insight into food security challenges faced by communities across the Garden State.

They are including specific obstacles and disparities within communities that are considered “food deserts.” Responses to the RFI are due no later than 5 p.m. on April 12. The RFI can be found online.

The NJEDA issued the RFI in conjunction with Governor Phil Murphy’s office and the New Jersey departments of Community Affairs (NJDCA) and Agriculture (NJDA), to gather information and ideas regarding the implementation of the Food Desert Relief Act, part of the NJ Economic Recovery Act of 2020 that Governor Murphy signed into law in January 2021.

“While COVID did not create the problem of food insecurity or lack of access to healthy food, it greatly exacerbated it,” Murphy said. “As we work toward an economic recovery from the pandemic in an equitable manner, it is essential that we make eliminating food deserts a top priority. The support the NJEDA will provide through the Food Desert Relief Act will play a pivotal role in achieving that goal, and the RFI announced today is an important step in that process.”

The Food Desert Relief Act directs the NJEDA to address the food security needs of communities across New Jersey by providing up to $40 million per year for six years in tax credits, loans, grants, and/or technical assistance to increase access to nutritious foods and develop new approaches to alleviate food deserts. The information gathered from this RFI will help inform the creation of a New Jersey-specific definition of food deserts and offer potential solutions to increase the accessibility and affordability of healthy, nutritious foods for all NJ residents.

• municipalities and school districts;
• hunger relief organizations (e.g., food banks);
• food retailers,
• producers,
• processors and suppliers;
• advocacy organizations;
• social services providers;
• supermarket developers and operators;
• community stakeholders;
• policy and academic researchers;
• technical assistance providers;
• agricultural organizations and farm markets;
• developers of innovative anti-hunger and nutrition programs;
• foundations and philanthropic initiatives that address hunger and food insecurity

In 2018, approximately 775,000 New Jerseyans reported difficulty putting food on their table at some point in the year. That number is now projected to grow by more than 60 percent, to a total of over 1.2 million New Jersey residents (13 percent of all residents) facing food insecurity. According to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, an estimated 365,000 New Jersey children – approximately one in five children – will experience food insecurity this year, an increase of 75 percent. In addition, a 2018 analysis conducted by the Reinvestment Fund found that nearly 880,000 New Jerseyans had limited access to a supermarket or a grocery store.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership and utilizing funding provided through the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act, we are taking a whole-of-government approach to finding new and creative ways to address and eliminate food insecurity,” NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said. “Through this RFI, we plan to leverage one of New Jersey’s greatest assets – its people – and harness their brainpower to help us provide more than a million people affected by food insecurity with access to healthy food options in their neighborhoods.”

In addition to seeking information to better understand the short- and long-term food accessibility challenges faced by communities across New Jersey, this RFI also invites ideas for potential initiatives to increase accessibility and affordability of healthy foods and considerations for the NJEDA and its partner agencies in defining the state’s food desert communities.

All RFI responses must be submitted in writing no later than 11:59 p.m. on April 12, via e-mail to: fooddesertrfi@njeda.com. The subject line of the e-mail should state: “RFI Response-2021-RFI-OET-COVID19-FoodDesert-125”.

The NJEDA is currently soliciting feedback on the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act, including the Food Desert Relief Act. Anyone who wishes provide your comment(s) on the implementation of the package of tax incentive, financing, & grant programs that will be created under the Act should visit the website. https://www.njeda.com/economicrecoveryact/.

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