Ammons Secures $2.4M in Local Funds, Bringing Fresh Groceries to Champaign-Urbana

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Ensuring local residents have access to fresh, healthy food in their neighborhoods, state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, secured over 2 million dollars in grant money to construct a new grocery store in Northwest Urbana, as part of the Illinois Groceries Initiative New Stores in Food Deserts Program Ammons voted for last Spring.

“While food prices continue to climb and more families are strapping down their budgets due to Trump’s tariff games, it’s more clear than ever that Illinois isn’t backing down from what’s right for our people — and that means unfettered access to healthy, fresh foods and supporting an economy that uplifts our residents,” said Ammons.

The New Stores in Food Deserts Program will support the construction and renovation costs of new stores, as well as the first-year operations costs, including employee wages, utility costs, and initial inventory of food. Ammons’ support for the program garnered the city of Champaign $2,399,832 for HeartStrong Grocery’s construction to be completed in Northwest Urbana.

“I’m pleased that our neighbors in Northwest Urbana will not only have accessible means to put fresh food on the table every night, but will open doors for more construction workers, food handlers, local farmers, and grocery employees,” said Ammons. “This move spurs our economy in the right direction and this investment is absolutely critical to combatting the scarce fresh food supply central Illinois towns can be quite familiar with.”