Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has utilized American Rescue Plan funds to create one of the city’s most impactful programs, Feed Phoenix Food Program. The funding allocation through the Phoenix Resilient Food System is distributed to a series of related programs with the goal of developing more sustainable food options for Phoenix residents. This effort includes funding that will provide resources to local and neighborhood food banks, food kitchens, and investments to address food deserts and help support existing and new businesses providing healthy food to the community. The impact has been significant, including:
- Collectively the various programs delivered over 264,000 meals
- Funding to community food pantries has helped serve nearly 2 million pounds of food to 169,000 individuals and families.
- The various programs have created 17 jobs and 7 Urban Agriculture Fellowship
- Backyard Food Production Pilot installed 53 garden systems, helping develop gardens and train residents located in food deserts.