Delta Magic Receives $150,000 Grant to Plan Downtown Grocery
Helena, AR — Delta Magic is proud to announce that it has received a $150,000 planning grant from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative to explore options for a full-service, cooperatively owned grocery store located in downtown Helena, Arkansas. The awarded grant will be used to support planning activities for developing food retail models that will increase consumer access to healthy food in Helena.
Arkansas ranks as the most food-insecure state in the nation, with Phillips County recording the highest levels of food insecurity within the state. Big River Grocery will be designed as a community-oriented solution to this challenge, offering the community not only access to fresh, healthy food options but also a pathway to own and govern their grocery store. The co-op model will enable residents to actively shape a critical piece of their community infrastructure, while providing living-wage jobs with benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and profit-sharing. Additionally, the store will create opportunities for part-time employment for local youth and students, complete with professional training and growth potential.
A food co-op is a grocery store owned by members of the community. Unlike corporate chains, food co-ops are completely independent and focus on community participation and ownership. This model allows co-ops to prioritize local needs, making healthy, affordable food accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or cooking style. The goal of a co-op grocery store is to foster a welcoming space that nourishes the entire community and gives residents a direct say in how the store is run, empowering them to build a sustainable, resilient local food system.
“I see the grocery store as a critical piece of infrastructure that could make downtown a more complete mico-economy, providing basic goods and services for residents,” said Amoz Eckerson, Helena Architecture Team.
The grant funding will support three key planning activities critical to Big River Grocery’s development:
Development & Design Services
Led by the Helena Architecture Team, these activities will evaluate potential sites for feasibility, determine project costs, and set up development infrastructure, including site selection, schematic design, and construction budgeting. This process will build on an existing pre-feasibility study and prepare the project for the next stages of planning.
Co-op Startup Services
Columinate, a national consulting co-op specializing in the development of food co-ops, will oversee market analysis, community outreach, and cooperative governance. Columinate’s work will establish the cooperative’s foundational leadership structure, laying the groundwork for Big River Grocery’s member-owners and board of directors, essential to the co-op’s mission to be community-led and community-serving.
Capital Campaign
Uncharted Philanthropy will lead a strategic capital campaign, engaging the community and generating financial support for Big River Grocery. This campaign will assess local fundraising potential, establish a Case for Support, and build a donor and leadership network, preparing the organization for long-term financial sustainability.
Drew Smith, President & Co-Founder of Delta Magic says “Delta Magic is about highlighting the magic of the Delta by bringing people together to tackle complex problems. We are excited to partner with the Helena Architecture Team, Columinate, and Uncharted Philanthropy to bring this much-needed resource to our downtown.”
The timing of this project could not be better, as multiple local entities have started working together in an effort to revitalize downtown Helena through the “Joint Committee”. The committee consists of Main Street Helena, the Phillips County Chamber of Commerce, the Helena Advertising & Promotion Commission, the Historic District Commission, and Code Enforcement. The five entities meet monthly to prioritize strategic actions that promote commerce, eliminate blight, and empower small businesses and building owners.
About Delta Magic
Delta Magic is committed to building the capacity of the Delta through connecting resources and people and creating opportunities that address critical local needs. Through initiatives like Big River Grocery, Delta Magic works to strengthen the community by supporting food security, economic development, and highlighting the “magic” of the Delta.
You can read more about the Healthy Food Financing Initiative in their press release here: https://www.investinginfood.com/healthy-food-financing-initiative-awards-5-8-million-through-planning-grant-program/
You can read more about Big River Grocery by clicking here.