U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced a new legislative push to combat food deserts during her visit to Binghamton’s Greater Good Grocery store. She proposed an increase in federal funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, a program that aids grocery stores in underserved areas. Her bill seeks to double the program’s funding from $25 million to $50 million.
Gillibrand’s proposal includes making the program’s funding mandatory, ensuring consistent support each year. This significant funding boost aims to address the lack of accessible healthy food options in communities like Binghamton’s Northside, which has struggled with food scarcity.
Highlighting the urgency, Gillibrand pointed out that in 2021, approximately 24,000 residents in Broome County faced food insecurity. The proposed bill represents a substantial step towards ensuring that all communities have access to nutritious food options.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].