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Even in ‘Food Deserts,’ Independent Grocers Struggle to Survive

Summary

Independent grocery stores in food deserts face significant challenges in staying open despite government support. An Illinois initiative launched in 2018 aimed to bring grocery stores to underserved areas, but many have already closed due to issues like competition on pricing, location difficulties, and limited access to capital. A study examining stores funded by the USDA Healthy Food Financing Initiative revealed similar struggles, with several stores closing within a few years of opening. Illinois is now considering new programs to support small, independent grocers and is even exploring government-owned stores to help sustain access to healthy food in these communities.

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