Several new projects in Atlanta will work towards improving fresh food access in low-income areas of the city. GPB's Amanda Andrews has more from city leaders involved in the effort.

Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens joined city leaders to announce several new projects to improve food access in low-income areas.

A map details where the five new grocery locations will be.

A map details where the five new grocery locations in Atlanta will be.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

At a board meeting Thursday, Invest Atlanta approved 2.5 million dollars to create or redesign five store fronts around the city to serve fresh food. The new grocery stores will all be location in areas that have historically been considered food deserts.

Mayor Andre Dickens said larger grocery store brands refused to open new locations in Atlanta’s Southside.

“This was a vision of ours to make sure that throughout the city of Atlanta, where grocers might not have invested into grocery stores, that we were going to work with partners to make sure that people got fresh food,” he said.

The project will utilize the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the municipal market “goodr”, and other partners to provide affordable food.

Two of the new food locations will be in city council District 3 which includes historic Sweet Auburn avenue. District 3 Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari said this development is huge for the area.

“We're talking about a cradle of civil rights movement that has been neglected by this administration for a very long time,” Bakhtiari said. “These projects are going to be anchor projects to turn around a neighborhood and a community in the southeast area.”

 The new grocery locations are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Tags: food access  Atlanta  Georgia  Mayor Andre Dickens  health