Supplemental Table 2.Use of Multiple Data Sources in Determining Eligibility for Healthy Food Financing.
Determining eligibility for healthy food financing applications often requires multiple data sources and local verification.
Supplemental Table 2 outlines how multiple data sources inform the eligibility process.
Eligibility Example Description Additional
Data/Source
Lesson Learned
1. Clearly eligible: Low income and highly underserved
Grocery store ABC applies for funding in a census tract where the average household income is low (60% of the area median income), and several nearby census tracts are also low income. Local leaders have been trying to get a grocery store in the community for years, and are eager about the proposed project. Additionally, the nearest grocery store selling a variety of fresh produce is nearly 2.5 miles from the proposed site.
N/A This is a straightforward
example of a site that, excluding any other conflicts with program criteria, would be eligible for funding.
2. Clearly Ineligible:
Middle income and not underserved
Grocery store XYZ applies for funding in a census tract that is middle income. Furthermore, there is a large full-service grocery store in the adjacent shopping center as well as a small produce specialty store within a quarter mile.
N/A This is a straightforward
example of a site that, excluding any
exceptional factors, would not be eligible for funding.
3. Eligible:
Undocumented population changes income values
A small store applies for funding. It is the only store for miles surrounding a small town but the census tract comes up middle income. A phone call to a local municipal leader reveals a migrant population not captured by the U.S. Census. The town has done their own survey that
demonstrates a lower income population than the U.S. Census has captured and uses this to qualify
Local survey that shows more accurate representation of population.
If several local contacts assert that census data does not accurately reflect the local
population in regards to income, it is worthwhile to find additional documentation to
for federal programs. Therefore, the community would be considered low income.
demonstrate this adjustment in income levels.
4. Eligible:
“Supermarkets” with no fresh produce
Neighborhood A in City X is seemingly well served, as many “Supermarkets” are listed in Nielsen Trade Dimensions (a secondary data source).
However, further research shows that most of these locations are not full service grocery stores, and none sell any fresh produce. The nearest full service grocery store is nearly 3 miles away.
Therefore, this neighborhood would be considered underserved.
Phone calls to stores listed in Trade Dimension.
Nielsen Trade
Dimensions categories must be locally verified.
5. Likely Ineligible: Two Stores in same trade area oversaturates market
A grocery store operator is looking for funding to open a store in Neighborhood B, which has lacked a full-service grocery store for many years.
However, this grocer is unaware that a different operator has signed a lease and begun
construction in a shopping center a few blocks away. There is not enough grocery retail demand in the area to support both stores, and it would be unwise to use public dollars to fund competition.
Contact with local grocery wholesaler and retailers association.
It is crucial to stay abreast of grocery store developments and openings in underserved areas. However, if a store has been
preliminarily discussed, but progress towards financing or construction has not been made, an area would still be considered underserved.
6. Likely Eligible: Two Stores in same trade area addresses grocery retail leakage
A real estate developer is seeking funds for a grocery store project in Neighborhood C, a very dense urban neighborhood with high poverty rates. The neighborhood already has a 30,000 sq.
ft. grocery store a half mile away, but market data
Grocery retail leakage, population density.
There may be
exceptional cases where an existing grocery store may not sufficiently serve an area in need,
shows that the leakage rates in the area are unusually high, and community residents complain that the existing store is overcrowded.
Additionally, the new store would cater to a wider variety of the neighborhood’s ethnic residents.
Therefore, this store would qualify for funding, though perhaps not prioritized for grant dollars.
especially in areas of high population density.
7. Ineligible: Strong Opposition to Store
After a thorough review of primary and secondary data sources, a grocery project appears to meet both the low income and underserved criteria.
However, a call with a community leader indicates the project has received strong opposition from community members who have a preference for a different type and format of store, and one in a different location that is more accessible to public transit. This opposition is confirmed by multiple other local contacts, as well as recent newspaper articles. Therefore, the store does not meet the eligibility criteria of the program.
Calls with community contacts, and review of local media.
In addition to the location criteria, it is important to consider community fit. A project that is strongly opposed may not be a good fit for healthy food financing programs.
