Food Businesses: Support food-related businesses to improve access to healthy food and advance economic development.

Support for food-related businesses and entrepreneurial activity can grow the local economy by connecting people to productive livelihoods and building their skills, while also increasing the availability of healthy food for communities. The farmers markets of Minneapolis are an excellent example: In 2016 they provided a commercial marketplace for an estimated $10 million to $20 million in sales for more than 800 local food vendors, as well as numerous venues throughout the city for residents to purchase fresh produce and local food products.

Economic growth is most powerful when it builds economic capacity in communities with the greatest need. Supporting food-related businesses can help build this economic capacity in a number of ways. For example, culturally specific food-related businesses can serve as an important economic entry point, and continued means of income, for new immigrant entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color. Improving healthy food access in under-resourced communities can help children and youth have the energy and focus to learn and grow, ultimately contributing to a productive, vibrant local economy.

Entrepreneurs often lack the capital, resources, and experience with regulatory frameworks to start businesses in the city. Creating conditions conducive to new business start-ups, such as streamlining processes and raising awareness of resources, can remove barriers for new and existing businesses to thrive.