Obama Administration Selects Los Angeles Institute to Improve Access to Local Foods in Low Income Communities
Local Foods, Local Places Initiative Encourages Creative Economic Development in 26 Communities in 19 States
Yesterday,on behalf of the White House Rural Council, six federal agencies joined to announce 26 communities selected to participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative providing technical support to integrate local food systems into community economic action plans. The Youth Policy Institute in Los Angeles, Calif. was one of the selected communities that will receive technical funding to create a community-supported agriculture program that can improve the health of low-income residents by increasing access to local foods, boost economic opportunities for farmers and producers in the region, and help revitalize distressed neighborhoods.
Over the next two years, the project will aim to increase access to locally grown, healthy fruits and vegetables for residents while boosting economic opportunity for farmers/producers in various neighborhoods in central Los Angeles such as Boyle Heights, Central City, El Sereno, Downtown LA and Monterey Hills. The project also aims to revitalize sites in these neighborhoods by building stronger connections and accessibility through affordable access via biking, walking, or public transit.
Local Foods, Local Places is a partnership among USDA, EPA, Department of Transportation (DOT), ARC, the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The initiative draws on the Administration’s Partnership for Sustainable Communities, USDA’s Seven Strategies for Economic Development and other place-based strategies to address regional challenges.
Under this effort, a team of agricultural, transportation, environmental, public health and regional economic experts will work directly with the communities to develop local food projects they proposed. The 26 Local Foods, Local Places communities were chosen from among 316 applicants. The initiative is jointly funded and will provide $800,000 in technical assistance to communities.
A complete list of communities participating in the Local Food, Local Places Initiative can be found on the White House Rural Council website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/
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About the White House Rural Council
To address challenges in Rural America, build on the Administration’s rural economic strategy, and improve the implementation of that strategy, the President signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Rural Council. The Council coordinates the Administration’s efforts in rural America by streamlining and improving the effectiveness of federal programs serving rural America; engage stakeholders, including farmers, ranchers, and local citizens, on issues and solutions in rural communities; and promoting and coordinating private-sector partnerships. The work of the White House Rural Council and USDA to bring investment to rural America is an example of how the Administration is creating smart partnerships with the private sector to better support Americans in all parts of the country.
