New Store Should Alleviate City’s ‘Food Desert’
A rendering of what the Horizon Goodwill Industries food market will look like in downtown Hagerstown.
Fresh fruits and vegetables and shelves full of healthy food are finally headed to downtown Hagerstown. Horizon Goodwill Industries, with help from many foundations, funds, and local businesses, will create a full-service grocery store on Prospect Street, where a groundbreaking ceremony was held in July.
This venture will offer fresh food and household staples to the entire downtown area, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture has defined as a “food desert.”
“This type of initiative will help the people living and working in the center of Hagerstown, and hopefully, the investment will potentially be the spark to set in motion a considerable economic development comeback for the downtown area,” said Ron Bowers, HGI board chairman.
Many downtown residents face difficulty obtaining healthy groceries, things that residents of suburban communities take for granted because they have cars and easy access to large grocery stores. Being a food desert has a negative impact on community health. Unlike major cities where neighborhood grocery stores are within easy walking distance, Hagerstown does not have traditional grocery stores. Instead, city residents need to navigate public transportation or walk great distances to these suburban stores. Often, they turn to convenience stores or fast-food restaurants where healthy selections are harder to come by.
The Horizon Goodwill market has been talked about for several years, but it was a meeting of the minds between Meritus Health and the Washington County Community Action Council, spurred by the Healthy Washington County Go for Bold initiative launched in early 2020, that made the market a reality.
The store will be located at 200 N. Prospect St. in a portion of the HGI Mission Services building.
“Through its new store, Horizon Goodwill Industries will provide the neighborhood access to healthier options, as well as employment and enrichment opportunities for members of the community,” said Robert Tuggle, western Maryland market president for Truist. “This grant is another way we inspire and build better lives and communities by helping deliver critical services to individuals and families across Maryland.” The Truist Foundation provided a $50,000 grant for the store.
But the project wouldn’t have been possible without support from others, like the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Sylvia and Jacko Frank Family Fund, the Fletcher Foundation, Meritus Health, the Washington County Government, the Albert & Naomi Sinnesen Foundation, and the Kershner Sisters Foundation.
“Equitable access to healthy food is an essential element for members of any community to enjoy healthy, safe, and productive lives. In addition to helping alleviate the food desert condition, the opening of a downtown grocery store will create new jobs and allows us to introduce job training opportunities in grocery retail, creating new career pathways and supporting other employers in this sector,” said Dr. David Shuster, HGI president and CEO.