Expanding Access To Healthy Food in Flint’s Black Neighborhoods

During the Flint Water Crisis (2014) and closure of two major chain grocery stores – Kroger in August 2014 and Meijer less than a year later – the accessibility of Flint’s northern communities to fresh food significantly plummeted.  Dollar stores and fast food outlets have become the most accessible retail options for north Flint residents, many of whom do not own vehicles and either spend their limited resources on hired rides or pay high prices at convenience stores, which do not carry fresh produce.

Since 2014, North Flint Reinvestment has been working with residents, neighborhood organizations, and multiple community partners to develop a community-owned food co-op for the purposes of expanding access to healthy food and controlling our destiny relative to food security in North Flint.  NFRC has facilitated held community engagement and food co-op planning meetings monthly, welcoming the public to learn about the plans for the Market and participate in its development and design.  To date, we have close to 900 member-owners, 95% of whom are African American, and 80% of whom live in North Flint.