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Governor Pritzker unveils Illinois Grocery Initiative in 2024 Budget Address

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has announced a new plan to increase food access in the state.

During his State of the State and 2024 Budget Address Wednesday, Pritzker unveiled the Illinois Grocery Initiative, an investment of $20 million to help open and expand independent grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods.

“It does no good to provide a family with more money to purchase food if they have no local grocery store to shop at. It’s time we return to a tried and true model — one where those communities are served by independent, local grocery stores that sell food grown by Illinois farmers.”

The initiative included in Pritzker’s proposed budget includes an additional $2 million to help grocers purchase food from Illinois farmers.  

His remarks also included the announcement of a new early childhood education initiative and higher education investments, as well as plans to strengthen economic growth, public safety and violence prevention, social and mental health services, and public health infrastructure. 

Pritzker delivered his address live to the Illinois General Assembly. It was his first address given at the Illinois State Capitol since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

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