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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in a May 23rd news release announced that Helena and McCrory, Arkansas had been awarded a grant through the Local Foods, Local Places (“LFLP”).

The LFLP program grants are targeted toward revitalization of downtowns, boosting local economy, improvement of public health, and protection of the environment through local food enterprises. The EPA news release notes in part that through LFLP:

. . . partner communities work with a team of experts to identify local assets and opportunities that can support local food enterprises, and set goals for leveraging those resources in ways that spur revitalization. They then develop an implementation plan and help identify potential resources from the participating federal agencies to support implementation.

LFLP is stated to be supported by EPA, the United States Department of Agriculture, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Delta Regional Authority.

EPA states that the Helena, Arkansas, grant will help the Helena-West Helena/Philips County Port Authority “explore a potential farmers market and events space in a long-abandoned building near downtown where underground storage tanks have been removed.” The Port Authority is stated to have acquired the site and begun cleaning up contamination from its past use as a school bus repair facility.

EPA states that the City of McCrory, Arkansas, plans to “comprehensively address barriers to good nutrition and physical activity by strategically connecting and integrating multiple initiatives, including a new community/school garden; a new ‘healthy hub’ that brings clinical screening services, nutrition education classes, cooking demonstrations, prescription assistance, and food pantry distribution under one roof; and a potential farmers market and culinary incubator.”

The news release can be downloaded here.