Congresswoman Summer Lee, USDA Senior Advisor Cindy Axne, USDA State Officials Celebrate Salem’s Market Revitalization in the Hill District Made Possible By a $200,000 HFFI Grant

**For Immediate Release**

Kyla Gill, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov 

Vaibhav Vijay, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov 

Congresswoman Summer Lee, USDA Senior Advisor Cindy Axne, USDA State Officials Celebrate Salem’s Market Revitalization in the Hill District Made Possible By a $200,000 HFFI Grant

Pittsburgh, PA – July 15, 2024 – Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee and USDA Senior Advisor Cindy Axne joined the ownership of Salem’s Market, local officials, and Hill District constituents to celebrate the revitalization of Salem’s Market, a vital community resource in the Hill District. The event marked the successful implementation of a $200,000 Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) grant from the USDA, which facilitated the renovation of the previously vacant Shop ‘N Save location into a thriving halal grocery store. Congresswoman Lee played a pivotal role in securing this funding, ensuring that federal support was directed towards revitalizing local businesses and addressing food deserts in her district.

The site visit and lunch event showcased the positive impact of federal support in addressing food deserts and promoting healthy food access in underserved areas. The reactivation of this market is a significant milestone for the Hill District, providing fresh, nutritious food options to the community.

Congresswoman Summer Lee expressed her appreciation for the collaborative efforts that brought this project to fruition:

“Today is a celebration of what we can achieve when we come together to support our communities. The revitalization of Salem’s Market is not just an investment in a store but an investment in the health, well-being, and future of the Hill District. I am deeply grateful to the USDA, the City of Pittsburgh, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, and Abdullah Salem for their dedication and vision in making this project a reality. This market will make a significant difference for parents who need access to healthy food for their families, seniors who deserve convenient access to nutritious options, children who require fresh produce to grow and thrive, and workers who will benefit from the job opportunities created here.”

The event included a tour of the renovated market, a press event with formal remarks from key stakeholders, and a private lunch discussion focused on future community support initiatives.

Background:

• The number of people living in food insecure households in the United States in 2022 increased to 44 million, including 13 million children, according to a report released in October 2023 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 
• According to the report, food insecurity among single mothers was nearly 34%, an increase of 37% compared to 2021. Food insecurity among households receiving SNAP benefits also increased, with nearly 47% reporting they experienced food insecurity. Food insecurity rates continue to be higher for and disproportionately impacts people of color, showing the effect of racial disparities on communities.
• In Allegheny County, nearly 13% (95,300 people) of the residents do not have consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. 
• The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank served more meals in fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) than it did during the peak of the pandemic. During that time, more than 18,000 calls were fielded by the Food Bank, a 12 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. 
• On average, a 50,000 sq ft supermarket creates 250 full-time jobs, and a 10,000 sq ft supermarket creates 25 full and part-time jobs

Related Legislative Actions:

Recognizing the importance of such initiatives, Congresswoman Summer Lee, along with several of her House colleagues, has requested $25 million for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) in the Fiscal Year 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill. This funding is crucial to continuing and expanding the reach of HFFI, supporting projects that improve access to healthy food in underserved communities nationwide.

About Salem’s Market:

Salem’s Market, located at 1850 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, is a halal grocery store dedicated to serving the diverse needs of the Pittsburgh region. The store’s renovation was made possible through a $200,000 grant from the USDA’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative, aimed at improving access to healthy food in underserved communities.

About USDA’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI):

The HFFI program supports projects that improve access to fresh, healthy food in food deserts and underserved areas. It provides financial assistance to grocery stores, food hubs, and other food enterprises to expand healthy food options and promote food security.

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Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $1.85 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,300 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.