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RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF ALDERS OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO AND ACCEPT ANY AWARD FROM THE KENDALL FOUNDATION, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250,000 OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, FOR THE FOOD SYSTEM POLICY DIVISION TO IDENTIFY, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOP A SERIES OF PLANS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WILL CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND VALUES-BASED INSTITUTIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT AND IN WHICH ALL RESIDENTS WILL EQUITABLY BENEFIT FROM THE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SOCIOECONOMIC OUTCOMES OF A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM.
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WHEREAS: pre-COVID, across New Haven, 22% of the City’s residents were food insecure, - with not enough food or money to buy food - much higher than the Connecticut rate of 12% and national rate of 13%; and
WHEREAS: in two recent studies in New Haven - DataHaven’s Wellbeing Survey and CARE’s New Haven Health Survey - food insecurity impacts 1 in 3 adults in the City’s lowest-income neighborhoods that are predominantly Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC); and
WHEREAS: in these neighborhoods, food insecurity was notably higher among those not employed at 41.3% and underemployed (working part-time but wanting full-time employment) at 53.9% compared to 18.9% among those employed with a full-time job; and
WHEREAS: these low-income BIPOC communities also endure disproportionately worse health outcomes and increased mortality rates because of systemic and structural inequities, including higher rates of chronic disease, especially among food-insecure individuals, than New Haven’s overall.
WHEREAS: food entrepreneurship, as a low-barrier to entry endeavor, has the potential to increase food access and food security, improve health equity, generate income, build skills, enhance vibrant communities, and develop connections to broader efforts to address structural causes of inequities.
WHEREAS: values-based food procurement - the processes through which institutions purchase and serve food - offers powerful opportunities for public officials to partner with public institutions to prioritize accessibility to nutritious, sustainable, and fairly-produced food and to generate sustained benefit to population health overall.
WHEREAS: the Kendall Foundation invited the Food System Policy Division to apply for funding to assist the Division with projects that support the development of a more equitable ecosystem by promoting better connections from (rural and urban) farms to institutions in New Haven, and more support for emerging food entrepreneurs; and
WHEREAS: the Food System Policy Division meets the Foundation’s priorities through the Division’s own thematic priorities of health equity, socio-economic justice, and environmental justice and its current research on national best practices regarding values-based food procurement and ways to reduce barriers for food entrepreneurs, as well as through its partnerships with community organizations, residents, and institutions; and
WHEREAS: the Board of Alders supports the Food System Policy Division’s efforts to create an enabling environment for food entrepreneurship and values-based institutional food procurement in which all residents will equitably benefit from the positive environmental, health and socioeconomic outcomes; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Alders of the City of New Haven authorizes the Mayor of the City of New Haven to apply for funds offered by the Kendall Foundation 2021 New England Food System Grant Program, in an amount not to exceed $250,000 over two years and to accept such funds, if offered, and to execute all documents and contracts, as necessary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Board of Alders of the City of New Haven authorizes the Mayor of the City of New Haven to extend the award and/or approve no cost amendments of the award.