Rural Development invests $1.6 million to increase access to healthy foods across W.Va.

morgantown, w.va. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is partnering with ReInvestment Fund to award Appalachian FoodWorks Partnership a $1.6 million grant to help organizations strengthen local food financing programs and improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities across West Virginia, USDA Rural Development West Virginia State Director Ryan Thorn announced Monday.

“Access to affordable, fresh, and healthy food is something that every West Virginian should have, no matter where they live,” said Thorn.

The Appalachian FoodWorks Partnership, a recently formed alliance of organizations with a decade-long history of collaboration, focuses on nutrition access, technical assistance, and resource development. The partnership combines state government (the West Virginia Department of Agriculture), West Virginia University (Center for Resilient Communities and Family Nutrition Program), community-based lenders (Partner Community Capital), and the nonprofit sector (WV Food and Farm Coalition).

ReInvestment Fund has selected 16 public-private partnerships to receive $40.3 million in grants under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Local & Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program to expand access to nutritious and affordable foods in 20 states and Washington, D.C.

This program provides financing to local, state and regional organizations that partner to provide financing and technical assistance to food retailers in underserved communities.

For more information about Rural Development in West Virginia, visit www.rd.usda.gov/wv or contact your local Rural Development office.