Title
Authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings to examine the feasibility of establishing City-supported grocery stores and food retailers through public-private and community partnerships to expand access to affordable, nutritious, and high-quality food in Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Body
WHEREAS, Philadelphia residents continue to face significant challenges in accessing affordable, nutritious, and high-quality food, as grocery prices have risen substantially since the COVID-19 pandemic and food costs continue to place financial pressure on households; and
WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington region increased by approximately 35 percent between December 2019 and June 2026, placing continued pressure on household budgets and making affordable access to nutritious food increasingly difficult for Philadelphia residents; and
WHEREAS, Rising grocery prices can create barriers to accessing healthy and nutritious foods, and limited access to affordable and nutritious food can contribute to negative health outcomes and exacerbate existing health disparities; and
WHEREAS, Traditional grocery stores and other food retailers may face significant barriers to their operations, including high real estate and construction costs, operating expenses, and insufficient projected revenues to support a full-service grocery store; and
WHEREAS, Partnerships between the City and private businesses, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, cooperatives, and other qualified entities may provide opportunities to leverage public resources and community expertise to reduce barriers to grocery development and expand food access; and
WHEREAS, Cities across the country have explored different models for expanding access to affordable groceries, including New York City’s N.Y.C. Groceries initiative, which combines City investment and public sites with private g...
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