Explanation
BACKGROUND: On November 11, 2016 Columbus City Council approved resolution 0275X-2016 to formally accept the Local Food Action Plan (LFAP), which is a joint City/County plan sponsored by President Pro Tem Priscilla Tyson and Commissioner John O’Grady. The plan took two years to develop and includes 4 goals and 27 recommendations.
The goals of the LFAP include: enhancing coordination & communication among existing food resources among agencies, improving access to and education about healthy food, affordable food, and local food, increasing the role of food in economic development, and preventing food related waste. The recommendations contained within the plan explore strategies to address food insecurity as well as innovative approaches to improve the local food system.
The plan was developed with the understanding that increasing residents’ access to healthy food is a key element to maintaining a high quality of life, and it is one of the building blocks for a stronger community. Further, the data shows that a number of residents are dealing with obesity, diet-related diseases, food insecurity, and access to local food.
The funding being provided will help facilitate the implementation of the LFAP priorities. The Local Food Action Board will be working to implement actions included in the LFAP.
The purpose of this ordinance is to appropriate $15,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund to support the Local Food Action Plan. The funding being provided will help facilitate the implementation of the LFAP priority to develop a farmers market collaborative serving the City of Columbus through a contract with the non-profit Ohio Farmer’s Market Network (OFMN) to hire a Certified Farmers Market Manager. The market manager will provide technical assistance to farmers markets and neighborhood farm stands located in the City of Columbus including but not limited to Linden Farmers Market, Clintonville Farmers Market, Bronzeville Growers...
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