Newark Ranks High On List Of New Jersey's Worst 'Food Deserts'

NEWARK, NJ — New Jersey is releasing $30 million in grants to help alleviate some of the state’s worst “food deserts,” including several in Newark.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority recently greenlighted the Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey (FEED NJ) pilot program, a competitive grant initiative that aims to give a boost to New Jersey’s food desert communities (FDCs).

Qualifying FEED NJ recipients are eligible for grants up to $500,000. Applicants must primarily focus their projects on serving residents of the “highest-need” FDCs, which are spread across eight counties and 11 municipalities. These areas are home to 567,349 New Jersey residents.

Four cities — Newark, Camden, Trenton and Paterson — are represented more than once on a list of the state’s 15 “primary focus” FDCs (see below).

Making appearances on the list are Newark South (3rd-highest), Newark West (4th-highest), Newark North and Central (7th-highest) and Newark East (8th-highest).

Atlantic City/Ventnor, the second-highest ranked FDC, is excluded from this list because it is the sole focus of NJEDA’s existing Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program, state officials noted.

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FEED NJ applicants must have been in existence for at least two years to qualify for the program. Grant funding can be used for “food security initiatives” such as expanding access to locally grown produce, purchasing equipment for food provision, or establishing a food co-op/mobile market.

FEED NJ is funded with $30 million in proceeds from the NJEDA’s 2023 and 2024 Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auctions, which were authorized by the Food Desert Relief Act of 2021.

The NJEDA is hosting a FEED NJ information and application webinar on Monday, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. The webinar will provide further details on program specifics, eligibility requirements, and applications. To register for the webinar, click here.

The NJEDA’s list of New Jersey’s 50 FDCs was created in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and approved by the NJEDA Board in 2022. See Related: These ‘Food Deserts’ In Newark May Get State Funding

The list considers more than 24 variables related to the food retail environment, demographics, and economic, health and community factors.

A full list and map of all 50 FDCs is available on the FEED NJ website. A map showing geographic boundaries of the Primary Focus FDCs can be accessed here or viewed below.

“Communities cannot thrive without access to grocery stores that provide fresh produce and high-quality food for residents and workers,” New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez said.

“We understand that improving food access will have a profound and positive impact on the health and well-being of those living in these communities,” Suárez said.

According to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, other recent state programs that aim to expand food access include the Food Security Planning Grant Program, Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program, Food Desert Relief Supermarket Tax Credit Program, and the Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) Program.

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