Albany man seeks to bridge food access gap with grocery store – Athens County Independent

Report on the Proposed Albany Grocery Store Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

A community-led initiative is underway in Albany, Ohio, to establish a new grocery store. The project, spearheaded by local resident Gregg Montella, aims to address critical local needs while directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report outlines the project’s objectives, strategy, and its significant alignment with the global agenda for sustainable development.

Project Objectives and Contribution to SDGs

Addressing Food Security and Nutrition (SDG 2: Zero Hunger)

The primary objective of the proposed grocery store is to eliminate a local food desert, providing residents with reliable access to fresh and affordable food. This directly addresses the targets of SDG 2.

• Improved Access to Food: Currently, residents must travel to neighboring towns for comprehensive grocery shopping. The new store will provide a local source of nutritious food, particularly fresh produce.
• Support for Vulnerable Populations: The project plans to accept SNAP benefits, ensuring that low-income individuals and families have access to food, a key target of SDG 2.
• Enhanced Nutrition: By prioritizing fresh produce over the limited options available at local dollar stores, the initiative promotes better nutrition and health outcomes for the community.

Fostering Local Economic Growth and Sustainable Communities (SDG 8 & SDG 11)

The initiative is positioned to stimulate the local economy and enhance community resilience, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

1. Economic Revitalization: The store will be established in a formerly vacant building, contributing to the revitalization of Albany’s commercial infrastructure. This follows the successful model of other local businesses like Threefold Roasters, which have demonstrated the positive economic impact of occupying unused spaces.
2. Job Creation: The operation of the store will create local employment opportunities, supporting the goal of productive employment and decent work for all.
3. Community Cohesion: Plans for a community-painted mural on the building aim to foster a sense of local pride and shared identity, strengthening the social fabric in line with the goals of SDG 11.

Promoting Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)

A core principle of the project is its commitment to a “local-first” sourcing model, which strongly supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by creating sustainable food systems.

• Support for Local Agriculture: The store intends to source produce, meats, and dairy from the abundant farming community in Athens, Vinton, and Meigs counties. This provides a stable, year-round retail outlet for local producers, promoting sustainable agriculture.
• Reduced Food Miles: By prioritizing local and regional suppliers over national distributors, the project will shorten the supply chain, reducing transportation emissions and the overall environmental footprint of the food consumed by the community.

Implementation Strategy and Challenges

Business Structure and Partnerships (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)

The project’s development relies on a multi-stakeholder approach, reflecting the principles of SDG 17. Initial funding has been provided through personal savings, but strategic partnerships are being actively pursued to ensure long-term viability.

• Collaborative Planning: The project lead is consulting with community development organizations, including Rural Action and ACEnet, to determine the most effective business structure (e.g., LLC, nonprofit, social enterprise).
• Community Engagement: The initiative has garnered significant public support, with community members offering volunteer labor. Public meetings are planned to incorporate community input into the store’s development.

Infrastructure and Financial Hurdles

The primary challenge facing the project is the condition of the designated building. Significant investment is required before the facility can be operational.

1. Renovation Costs: An estimated $200,000 is needed for structural repairs and to install essential equipment such as refrigeration and air conditioning.
2. Funding Strategy: Securing capital for these renovations is the most critical next step in the project’s timeline.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article directly addresses food security and access to nutritious food. The project’s primary goal is to open a grocery store in Albany to combat the lack of local options for fresh food, forcing residents to “drive to Jackson, McArthur or Athens to do their grocery shopping.” This initiative aims to ensure the local population has reliable access to food, particularly “fresh produce,” which is noted as unavailable in existing dollar stores.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article discusses the creation of a new local enterprise that will contribute to the local economy. By opening a grocery store in a “formerly vacant building,” the project promotes entrepreneurship and aims to “attract people to Albany and bring more economic opportunities to the local community.” The plan also includes hiring local workers, as the store’s markup must be sufficient to “pay staff.”
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The project focuses on making the community of Albany more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It addresses the lack of basic services (a grocery store) and aims to revitalize the town by repurposing a vacant building. The plan to “host public meetings in the future for the community to provide input” demonstrates a commitment to participatory and inclusive community planning.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article highlights the importance of collaboration to achieve the project’s goals. The organizer, Gregg Montella, has met with “Rural Action, ACEnet and other community groups to learn about options for structuring the business.” He also envisions a system where “community faith-based organizations, churches, nonprofits, individuals, and other businesses can step up and help meet needs,” demonstrating a multi-stakeholder approach.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
   • Target 2.1: “By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.” The article addresses this by aiming to provide a local source of fresh produce and affordable food. The plan to “accept SNAP” benefits specifically targets access for low-income and vulnerable populations.
   • Target 2.3: “By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers… through… secure… access to… markets…” The store intends to prioritize sourcing from the “strong farming community that surrounds Albany,” giving “local producers… a place where they could sell all the time.” This directly supports small-scale farmers by creating a consistent market for their goods.
2. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship… and encourage the formalization and growth of… small- and medium-sized enterprises…” The entire project is an example of entrepreneurship aimed at creating a small enterprise that will generate local economic activity and create jobs.
3. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.1: “By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable… basic services…” A grocery store providing fresh and affordable food is a fundamental basic service. The article highlights that this service is currently missing in Albany, a gap the project aims to fill.
   • Target 11.3: “By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory… human settlement planning and management…” The plan to “host public meetings” and get people involved, as evidenced by community members offering to paint for free, points directly to a participatory approach to community development.
   • Target 11.a: “Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas…” The store’s model of sourcing from farmers in the surrounding rural counties (Vinton, Meigs, and Athens) and selling to residents in the town of Albany directly strengthens the economic and social links between these areas.
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The article explicitly mentions collaboration with civil society organizations like “Rural Action, ACEnet and other community groups,” as well as “faith-based organizations, churches, [and] nonprofits.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 2:
   • Indicator for Target 2.1: The ability of the store to accept SNAP benefits would be a direct measure of its accessibility to vulnerable populations. A reduction in the number of residents who report having to travel to other towns for groceries would be another key indicator.
   • Indicator for Target 2.3: The number of local farmers and producers from Athens, Vinton, and Meigs counties supplying the store. The proportion of the store’s inventory that is sourced locally would also be a relevant metric.
2. For SDG 8:
   • Indicator for Target 8.3: The successful establishment and continued operation of the grocery store as a new small business in Albany. The number of full-time or part-time jobs created for staff would be a direct indicator of job creation.
3. For SDG 11:
   • Indicator for Target 11.1: The opening of the grocery store itself serves as the primary indicator of providing a new basic service. The availability and variety of fresh produce would be a specific measure of progress.
   • Indicator for Target 11.3: The number of public meetings held and the number of community members who participate or volunteer (e.g., the people who offered to paint).
   • Indicator for Target 11.a: The volume and value of goods purchased from local rural farmers for sale in the town store.
4. For SDG 17:
   • Indicator for Target 17.17: The number of formal or informal partnerships established with organizations like Rural Action, ACEnet, local churches, and other community groups to support the store’s development and operation.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: athensindependent.com