New Program Aims to Support Grocery Stores and Food Access
Cleveland City Council is considering an emergency ordinance, File No. 1230-2026, to establish a Good Food Retailer Certification Program designed to help grocery stores and cooperatives stay in business. This initiative, introduced by Council Members Conwell, Santana, and Bishop, seeks to combat grocery store closures and improve access to nutritious food across the city by offering economic incentives to qualifying retailers.
What's in the file
The proposed ordinance would add a new Section 141.40 to the Cleveland Codified Ordinances, authorizing the Director of Public Health to certify qualifying businesses as "Good Food Retailers." To be eligible, an applicant must be a grocery store or cooperative located within Cleveland, demonstrate a financial need to support continued operations, and have no active city notices of violation regarding building, housing, or public health.
The legislation also authorizes a Job Retention Income Tax Credit Incentive Program for these certified retailers. While this ordinance establishes the framework, individual tax credits would require separate Council legislation for each specific applicant.
According to the official document, the certification process will evaluate applicants based on several criteria, including:
- Offering a minimum percentage of fresh/frozen produce, meats, dairy, or other nutritious foods
- Accepting SNAP and WIC benefits
- Employing Cleveland residents and providing wages above the minimum wage
- Employing workers covered by collective bargaining agreements
- Implementing environmentally sustainable practices
- Donating excess edible food to local food pantries or mutual aid organizations
- Sourcing products from Ohio growers or producers
The ordinance notes that the tax credit, if authorized, must be measured as a percentage of the income tax revenue derived from retained employees and cannot exceed a term of 15 years.
Who may be affected
- Grocery stores and grocery cooperatives located in Cleveland seeking certification and economic assistance
- Department of Public Health, which will manage the certification program
- Department of Development, which will support the tax credit incentive program
- Cleveland residents, particularly those in areas with limited food access or seeking employment
Status and timeline
2026-10-01: The ordinance was introduced for its first reading.
Residents can verify the details of this proposal by reviewing the official record for File No. 1230-2026 through the Cleveland City Council website.
Source record
- File
- 1230-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- First Reading
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- September 30, 2026