LISC's work to improve the quality of life in low-income communities got a big boost this week with $4 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury's CDFI Fund. LISC will use the new grant in two important ways: to seed arts-related development efforts that boost economic vitality and to help families access fresh food as part of broad efforts to improve health.
CDFI Fund awards LISC $4MM in grants to tackle food deserts, ‘creative placemaking’ in low-income areas
NEW YORK (September 11, 2015)—The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will use $4 million in new federal grants to expand access to fresh food in entrenched food deserts and drive the development of arts and culture-related economic hubs that help revitalize low-income communities.
The new LISC grants are part of the 2015 Community Development Financial Institutions Fund’s (CDFI Fund) technical assistance and financial assistance program, which announced more than $182 million in grants and loans to 152 organizations this week. The CDFI Fund is part of the U.S. Treasury Department.
LISC will use the additional $3 million of its award to bring fresh, affordable food to low-income areas where it is scarce. The grant will help LISC spur new grocery stores, farmers markets, community kitchens and food production facilities that bring new jobs and economic vitality to neighborhoods—all while contributing to broader efforts to improve health.
“In many communities, poverty and poor health go hand in hand,” said Amy Gillman, senior program director for health at LISC. “We need to find innovative ways to expand access to healthy food as part of larger efforts to help people improve their overall quality of life.”
For more on the CDFI Fund grants, visit: www.cdfifund.gov.
About LISC
LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has invested $14.7 billion to build or rehab 330,000 affordable homes and apartments and develop 53 million square feet of retail, community and educational space. For more, visit www.lisc.org.
For Immediate Release:
September 11, 2015
Contact:
Colleen Mulcahy, LISC
312.342.8244 or c.mulcahy@sbcglobal.net