Financing Healthy Food Enterprises in California Communities

The California FreshWorks Fund is a public-private partnership created to finance healthy food retail and distribution projects in underserved communities that lack access to affordable fresh foods throughout California.

Since its inception FreshWorks has disbursed $60 million to various projects aiming to create healthy communities across the state. These projects include grocery stores, mobile food operators, farmers’ markets, a food business incubator, and several intermediary lenders that provide micro-loans to smaller food enterprises.

As a result of this financing and grant distribution, more than 800,000 Californian’s have increased access to fresh and healthy foods. This projects have also created jobs critical to economic opportunity in these communities.

California FreshWorks Fund Overview

Provides financing and grants to Increase access to healthy food as a means to improve health outcomes
Spurs economic development and local job creation that support healthy communities
Encourages innovation in healthy food retailing and distribution

The California FreshWorks Fund Story

We’re here to answer your questions.

Alison Powers

Director of Economic Opportunities

apowers@capitalimpact.org

Advantages of Borrowing through Capital Impact Partners

As a mission-driven organization, we are committed to supporting projects that create social and economic justice.

More than thirty years of experience in lending to projects in underserved communities.
Provided over $150 million in healthy food project financing nationwide
Mission-driven organization committed to partnering with borrowers to ensure good projects that deliver social impact get funded
Can serve as a single loan source, eliminating need for borrower to secure many layers of capital that can be time consuming and difficult to assemble
Ability to offer a variety of low-cost financing options under terms not available through traditional financial institutions

Stories of Impact

Filling the Gap for Washington D.C.’s Uninsured

For many years, uninsured residents of Washington D.C.’s Ward 5 had to rely on a small, outdated clinic. That all changed when we helped Unity Health open a new 26,000 sq. ft. facility, vastly increasing its services offered to patients.

Nourishing the Neighborhood for 20 Years

When Sam Shina wanted to revamp his neighborhood store to better serve his Detroit neighborhood with healthy, local and affordable offerings he turned to Capital Impact Partners. With $6 million in financing, Sam was able to double the size of his store and create a host of new jobs.

Delivering Food and Friendships to Those in Need

Age-friendly communities require a range of support services, including access to nutritious food. Our financing of the Meals on Wheels program near Fort Worth, Texas helped build a new warehouse and modern kitchen facilities. This will help expand meal deliveries by 50% to at least 1.5 million meals annually for a mostly low-income older population.