The City of Salmon Arm is pursuing grant funding to help grow a plan for food security.
Council voted in support of submitting a grant application for $100,000 through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Intersectoral Action Fund. The money would go towards the creation of a Food and Urban Agriculture Plan.
In January 2024, Coun. David Gonella introduced a motion to begin momentum on the proposed plan. Gonella’s reasoning for the motion revolved around food security.
““It is widely acknowledged that food insecurity is a significant societal health problem that is associated with poor health outcomes, and is an obstacle to social, emotional and psychological well-being,” read Gonella’s notice of motion.
At the July 22 council meeting, city chief administrative officer Erin Jackson explained since council adopted a motion for staff to explore options for a Food and Urban Agriculture Plan and seek funding sources, staff have been in communication with Shuswap Food Action Society executive director Liz Blakeway, and Linda Boyd of Interior Health, to “identify scope and funding sources for the completion of a plan. And through these discussions this particular grant came forward.”
The city also received a letter of support from Food Action member and registered dietitian Serena Caner, who Jackson said “indicated $80,000 would be recommended, with more funding the better for additional engagement, and so staff are going to seek $100,000.”
“It is recommended, and more information will come forward at a later date, that a Food and Urban Agriculture committee be created to engage the community and inform the scope…,” said Jackson. “Through discussions with Ms. Blakeway and Ms. Boyd, it was determined the best course of action was to find out from the people who are most engaged in food security issues what a plan like this should look like. So this is a two step process for the grant. It’s sort of an expression of interest as the first step and then once you pass that, the full application… will need to be submitted.”
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