Limited access to healthy, affordable food is a significant barrier to health and well-being for residents of Knoxville’s Western Heights and Beaumont neighborhoods. Located in Census Tract 14, the community is considered a food desert where many households face low income, limited transportation, and reduced access to supermarkets and fresh foods. Recent community research found that 94% of residents report limited access to healthy foods, and many households rely on food assistance programs to meet basic nutritional needs.

The Family Investment Foundation (FIF), a nonprofit dedicated to expanding opportunity and wellbeing for residents of Knoxville’s affordable housing communities, is working in collaboration with KCDC and community partners to address this challenge through the Transforming Western redevelopment. As part of this effort, KCDC is constructing the Connections Building, a mixed-use community hub adjacent to Beaumont Park that will include a neighborhood grocer serving a 700-unit mixed-income community and surrounding neighborhoods. The grocer will prioritize fresh foods, accept SNAP and WIC benefits, and improve affordability and access for low-income households.

FIF seeks to engage a consultant to identify and vet a qualified grocery operator and support collaborative planning for a sustainable model. Planning will build on prior food access research and learning visits to successful neighborhood grocers across Tennessee and will be informed by the Knoxville–Knox County Food Policy Council. This project represents the first effort to integrate a neighborhood grocer into a KCDC redevelopment community, with lessons learned informing future affordable housing redevelopment efforts.