U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wants the federal government to help lure a large grocery store to Valley Plaza in Syracuse, which has seen two supermarkets close since 2009.
Gillibrand, D-N.Y., plans to visit Valley Plaza today to talk about her legislation that would help combat “food deserts” where most residents don’t have access to large stores selling affordable, nutritious food.
A bill that Gillibrand introduced last year would set aside $50 million per year from federal taxpayers to help lure grocery stores to such underserved areas.
The money would fund the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which aims to provide grants and loans to grocery stores that agree to open in urban and rural areas where there are no affordable alternatives.
A P&C Foods store at Valley Plaza that had served the city’s South Side closed in 2009.
In 2012, Tops Friendly Markets agreed to spend $1.5 million to open a new store at the shopping plaza at 4141 South Salina St.
Tops received $850,000 in state and local aid as an incentive to build the store. But just six years later, Tops closed the store after filing for bankruptcy.
Among those supporting Gillibrand’s effort to erase “food deserts” are Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Karen Belcher, executive director of the Food Bank of Central New York.
Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Ad Choices