LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas Minority Health Commission has opened applications for food desert elimination grants.
The commission will award a maximum of four grants of up to $10,000 each to organizations focused on fighting food deserts.
"Arkansas is now ranked #1 in food insecurity and every county in the state now has at least one food desert, so providing these funds to organizations doing this targeted work will certainly be impactful," Kenya Eddings, the director of the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, said.
"Disproportionately found in high-poverty areas, food deserts create extra, everyday hurdles that can make it harder for kids, families and communities to grow healthy and strong," the grant application said. "Arkansas has seen a rapid decline of grocery stores and a similar rapid increase in food deserts around the state."
Additionally, the ADH says that food deserts contribute to the increase in heart disease, the number one cause of death for Americans.
Funding from the grants can be used for community needs assessments, focus groups, and technical assistance, among other things.
Applications can be found here and are due on Jan. 4 at 3 p.m.
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