Culver residents have spoken clearly: they want a real grocery store. Now, the small Jefferson County city has the funding to figure out how to make that happen.
The city received a $50,000 planning grant through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered through Portland-based nonprofit Ecotrust, to conduct a full feasibility study on adding grocery options to the community. The grant came in response to a March survey conducted as part of a new strategic planning process for the city.
What the Survey Found
The survey made clear that Culver residents are underserved when it comes to food access. While the city has convenience stores and some non-perishable options, residents said they regularly leave town to buy fresh produce and fresh meat.
Data from the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance shows that 14.9% of Jefferson County experiences food insecurity, a rate slightly above both state and national averages. The Oregon Food Bank has also reported a 51% increase in food assistance visits across Oregon and southwest Washington over the past two years.
City Administrator Karin Crouch said the data points to a real gap.
Currently, the providers that we have here in our city do not have fresh produce and meat on a regular basis. That is why we are doing this. We are really trying to make Culver livable with bringing in services that are needed.
About the Study
The feasibility study will assess Culver population data, income demographics, and potential store locations to identify what type of grocery operation could realistically succeed in the community. Results will be presented to the city after a public survey is completed.
Kaitlyn Rich, director of community capital at Ecotrust, said the program targets exactly the kind of community Culver represents.
The goal of that funding is to enable more grocery retailers to move into low-income, low-access communities. I think by really focusing on the strengths and the folks who are running businesses regionally and in our cities and towns, we are able to build a more resilient food system.
Rich added that more than half of the projects Ecotrust funds through this initiative come from rural areas in Oregon, southeast Alaska, and northern California.
Next Steps
The city is encouraging residents to participate in the upcoming public survey as part of the study process. Culver, with a population of around 1,000, sits between Madras and Redmond and has grown steadily in recent years. Residents who want to weigh in on grocery options can contact City Hall for information on how to participate when the survey opens.
Rich said she hopes the study is just the beginning. The feasibility study will help assess where the most accessible location is to open a store, as well as the market demand, she said, adding that opening a grocery store can be a big endeavor and the grant is intended to support that process from the ground up.