The North Flint Food Market (NFFM) is part of a larger project called the North Flint Health & Wellness Hub in the Clio and Pierson Road corridors.  NFFM will be a community food co-op owned by residents, organizations, churches and businesses which will open in 2023.  The other parts of the Health & Wellness Hub will include health and nutritional services with programming through our community partners.  There will also be a focus on financial literacy services with the planned addition of a credit union over the next few years.  They are all part of the larger project for economic development in the corridor which started with the opening of Eagle’s Nest Academy elementary school in 2014 across the street.

The location of the market will be on North Clio Road in the former Abundant Life Church.  The area surrounding the NFFM’s future site is located where more than 500 residents are in a low access area to a grocery store.  In fact, the need is so great for access to groceries, the Mass Transportation Authority began “Ride to Groceries” services to transport residents to the nearest full-service grocery store over 5 miles away.

A co-op is different from a traditional grocery story because it is owned by its members.  A market analysis conducted by Keith Wicks & Associates showed that developing a sustainable co-op model was the right solution to address the area’s food desert.   Consumers purchase memberships to provide investment into the development of the store. Because the co-op is owned by residents a portion of the profits are invested back into the community.  By becoming a member of the co-op individuals will have access to additional health and wellness services along with being able to shop at a full-service grocery store with a focus on healthy and nutritious food not currently available because of the food desert that exists in North Flint.