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Senate Bill 850, as amended by the Illinois House, would allow
the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to
create a Grocery Initiative that would study food deserts and
provide taxpayer funds for new and existing grocery stores in
those areas.
The measure describes food deserts as low-income communities
that are at least a half-mile from a grocery store in urban
areas and at least 10 miles from a market in rural areas.
State Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, said a grocery store is the
lifeblood of a small community.
“When you lose a grocery store, you lose the identity of your
community, and you lose the ability to retain population and
keep families in your community,” Spain said.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal
year sets aside $20 million for the grocery store initiative.
State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, said
government should not be in the grocery store business.
“I understand the intent, we want to help those that need to be
served, however, there are much better ways to do it than
putting the future taxpayer on the hook of Illinois, and having
the government run grocery stores is an absolute, horrendous
idea,” McLaughlin said.
State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, said this isn’t the answer for
the problems some face in Illinois.
“We continue to put policies in place and pass bills and
legislation that prevent businesses from wanting to come here
and make it more costly for them to be here,” Ugaste said.
The House passed the measure, which is now headed back to the
Senate. Legislators return Wednesday.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
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