Mayor Woodfin secures successful passage of amendment to help reduce food deserts in Birmingham
On Tuesday, July 9, the Mayor’s Office was successful in getting an amendment approved to help reduce food deserts and improve residents’ access to healthy foods.
The city’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity recognized that there are 146,000 Birmingham residents living in food deserts. The department knew that the status quo had to be changed in order to get healthy food options and grocery stores closer to residents. So, earlier this year, the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity submitted an amendment to change the city’s existing zoning ordinance to make it easier:
- To recruit new grocery stores in areas where they currently are not
- To reduce the number of dollar stores opening in food deserts, which will allow more grocery stores to enter the market
- To sell produce onsite at community gardens
- To operate farmers’ markets by increasing the number of days per year that they can be open
- To operate a mobile grocery stores in residential districts where residents live
In an 8-0 vote Tuesday, the city council approved the amendment.
“This is an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance to expand healthy food options throughout our community,’’ said Josh Carpenter, director of the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity. “This amendment will help us recruit grocery stores in food desert areas, and I fully expect we will see more expanded options of non-traditional grocery stores.’’
The change will be a significant difference for the city and its residents. “Healthy foods are the cornerstone of a healthy community. What we are trying to do is show our community that healthy residents make healthy workers, which will lead to a healthier economy,’’ Carpenter said. “Making sure that people have access to healthier foods is fundamental to our work in not only recruiting grocery stores but other businesses.’’
Alabama has the fifth highest concentration per capita of dollar stores in the country. By limiting the number of dollar stores opening in the city, this amendment will make Birmingham more appealing to potential grocers.
“The passage of this amendment shows that we are proactive in thinking about not just the whole worker but the quality of our community,’’ Carpenter said.
