The Augusta Commission approved an agreement Tuesday with the Community Foundation of the CSRA to help bring a grocery store to the Laney-Walker Community.
The agreement allows the city’s Housing and Community Development Department to begin using $500,000 in grant funds intended to develop a grocery.
Televangelist T.D. Jakes and Wells Fargo announced the $500,000 grant to the foundation in February as an effort to improve historically underserved communities.
The Laney-Walker and Bethlehem districts, both historically Black communities, have long been considered a food desert due to the lack of fresh food options. The closest grocery, a Kroger two miles away, closed in 2017.
The initiative’s overall goal is to close the food desert and establish a grocer as a “cornerstone” in the local economy. It also calls for wraparound services, to improve the financial, physical, social and emotional health in the community.
Under the terms of the agreement, the city is expected to report its efforts to the foundation and cooperate in publicity campaigns.
As part of its reporting, the city must show the efforts benefit low- or moderate-income populations. According to HUD data, 44% of the Laney-Walker census tract lives below the poverty line while 34% of the Bethlehem population is below the poverty line.
In other business Tuesday, the commission approved Augusta’s participation in a University of Georgia program called the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing. Augusta was one of just five local governments to participate, joining Cornelia, Thomaston. St. Marys and Catoosa County, according to a news release.
The city chose the Turpin Hill community adjacent to Bethlehem as the pilot area for the initiative and held a first community meeting March 21. Additional meetings will be held at the Carrie J. Mays Community Center, 1014 11th Ave. on June 20 and Sept. 19.
The commission also approved moving forward with design of improvements at Newman Tennis Center. Phase 1 of the Sales Tax 8-funded project includes resurfacing tennis courts and replacing fencing and lighting.
