Policy Point Wednesday - Mapping Tools and Food Access

The Reinvestment Fund, an organization that provides support for neighborhood revitalization, has created a fascinating mapping tool on their website.  This tool aggregates different data by geography - for instance, you can plug in your own address and find out whether you have access to grocery stores, what the census data information is for age and education level, and where local WIC and SNAP-eligible vendors are in your area.

TRF hopes to use this data to help attract businesses to underserved areas - the map also includes a data layer of areas eligible for New Market Tax Credits: redevelopment there is supported by a federal tax credit that allows community development organizations to lend or invest in projects in low-income areas.  By both identifying a market opportunity and offering support to businesses, TRF hopes to make changes in the food desert landscape.