This ‘Food Desert’ In Montclair May Get State Funding: Map

MONTCLAIR, NJ — New Jersey has $240 million to spend on eradicating “food deserts.” And parts of Montclair are among those that may be eligible for funds.

Earlier this week, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) released a ranked list of 50 proposed food deserts across the state, where residents have been struggling to find healthy eating options.

Hopefully, a massive wave of state funding will help to turn things around, NJEDA officials said. Over the next several years, an estimated $240 million in funds will be made available to communities on the list through the Food Desert Relief Act. Read More: List Of 50 'Food Deserts' Proposed In New Jersey (Here's Where)

The list includes an area designated "Orange/West Orange/Montclair," which includes some of Montclair Township.

What makes up a "food desert," anyway? See the NJEDA's full methodology here.

According to the agency, here are some of the factors that went into making their list: poverty, CDC Modified Retail Food Environment Index, USDA Low Access Score, supermarket access, SNAP enrollment, vehicle access, 2020 Municipal Revitalization Index Score, unemployment rate, obesity rate, density (population).

The NJEDA also took other factors into consideration, including:

• Access to unhealthy food retailers
• Income relative to cost of living
• 2016-18 Municipal Violent Crime Rate
• Percentage of households with internet access
• Access to transportation
• Education levels
• Health indicators
• Housing quality
• Race and ethnicity
• Single mother percentages of households
• Percent of students with free or reduced-price lunch

NJEDA officials said anyone who wants to provide feedback on the proposed list can visit https://www.njeda.com/program-specific-feedback to offer input before Feb. 4. The NJEDA will also host listening sessions on Jan. 12 (register here) and Jan. 13 (register here) to solicit stakeholder input.

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