About the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative Council (CHFFIC)

CHFFIC was established in October 2011 when the Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 581. CHFFIC is a public-private partnership program that was created to increase access to healthy foods in underserved, urban, and rural communities and inspire innovation in healthy food retailing. The CHFFIC Fund within the State Treasurer’s Office is comprised of federal, state, philanthropic, and private funds. These funds will provide financing for grocery stores and other forms of healthy food retail and distribution by providing capital to eligible applicants.

Communities without access to affordable, quality, and nutritious foods are known as food deserts. Studies have shown that there are few supermarkets and other retail outlets selling affordable, nutritious food in low-income communities. Lack of access to healthy, affordable food items may result in higher levels of obesity and other diet-related diseases. The problem goes beyond health; poor communities are cut off from the economic development opportunities that arise from a local grocery.

The CHFFIC’s duties are to develop financing options using public or private moneys and resources; develop program parameters, such as establish minimum and maximum levels of financial assistance; and partner with federal, state, or local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic programs.

CHFFIC provides a scalable solution to the problem of food deserts in California that will improve the health of Californians, spark economic development, and help transform underserved, urban, and rural communities into communities of opportunity.

The Treasurer’s Office is working to secure funding to have CHFFIC running. In the interim, please sign up to receive email updates from CHFFIC for up-to-date information. If you have any questions about CHFFIC, please call (916) 653-2995.