Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes a $136,800 grant from the Economic Development Division’s Healthy Retail Access capital program (Munis program 63009) to support final start-up costs for the new grocery store at 3554 E Washington Ave (Gooh Groceries). It further authorizes the award to exceed the $100,000 limit originally established by adopted RES-15-00521 (File 38465) in 2015.
Providing this funding will support final project start-up costs related to opening the store and launching the business, including but not limited to procuring initial inventory and remaining equipment. Gooh Groceries has previously received a Healthy Retail Access Program grant in the amount of $125,000 (Leg file 64416, RES-21-00211).
The proposed grant will be funded by $136,800 currently available in the Healthy Retail Access capital program. No additional City appropriation is required.
Title
A resolution to update File No. 38465 regarding the Healthy Retail Access Program to authorize a one-time increase in the maximum award amount for Gooh Groceries (Gooh Groceries, LLC) project in the amount of $136,800. (District 12)
Body
WHEREAS, On June 19, 2015 Common Council adopted RES-15-00521 to create the Healthy Retail Access Program and authorized the Madison Food Policy Council to make awards through this program of up to $100,000; and
WHEREAS, Since that resolution was adopted, the Healthy Retail Access Program Fund has grown to $250,000 in annual appropriations within the Capital Budget; and
WHEREAS, The Madison Food Policy Council has received an application from Gooh Groceries, LLC to open a community grocery store, which provides affordable, healthy, and culturally relevant food products to residents of the Carpenter-Ridgeway, Hawthorne, and Truax neighborhoods, in the amount of $136,800 because of rampant inflationary cost escalations, which have increased the cost of the project nearly 100%; and
WHEREAS, On October 4, 2023 the Healthy Retail Access Review ...
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