Savannah Received Grant to Fight Food Insecurity

The Savannah Chatham Food Policy Council secured $110,000 in funding to increase local access to healthy, fresh produce.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Healthy Food

Screen-print poster illustration of a wooden crate filled with fresh vegetables, representing community food security initiatives in Savannah. — The City of Savannah received $110,000 in grant funding to expand local community gardens and fresh produce initiatives for Chatham County residents. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In 2025, the City of Savannah was awarded a $110,000 grant through the Nutrition Access, Affordability, and Education program. This funding supports efforts by the Savannah Chatham Food Policy Council to mitigate rising food insecurity across the region.

Why it matters

The grant aims to address significant barriers to nutritious options, as food insecurity in Chatham County rose from 10.5% in 2021 to over 16% in 2024. These resources will help expand community gardens and produce prescription initiatives for those in need.

The grant provides $110,000 to improve food access for nearly 50,000 people in Chatham County currently facing limited options for fresh foods. This follows a period where local food insecurity rates climbed from 10.5% in 2021 to over 16% in 2024.

The players

Savannah Chatham Food Policy Council

This local organization develops strategies to improve healthy food access and manages community-focused nutrition initiatives.

Healthy Savannah

This group works to improve health outcomes and began the reorganization of the local food policy council in 2022.

African American Mayors Association

This national organization works to empower local leaders and provided the grant funding in partnership with a private foundation.

American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America

This private foundation focuses on funding community initiatives that promote healthy eating and active lifestyles.

The details

Administered by the African American Mayors Association and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America, the funds support the Savannah Chatham Food Policy Council. The Council is working to integrate produce prescription programs into the local food landscape to serve the broader Georgia population, which includes 1.4 million food-insecure individuals.

In 2021, the food insecurity rate in Chatham County stood at 10.5%.
Healthy Savannah began the process of reorganizing the Council in 2022.
The food insecurity rate in Chatham County exceeded 16% in 2024.
The City of Savannah was awarded the grant in 2025.
The Food Policy Council received the additional funding in August 2026.

Culture Shift

The localized effort in Savannah follows a pattern set by the nationwide rise in food insecurity reported by Feeding America. It reflects a broader societal shift toward prioritizing municipal-level food policy as a primary lever for addressing systemic health inequities.

Residents may see an expansion of local produce prescription programs and increased availability of community garden resources. These initiatives aim to lower the financial burden of purchasing fresh food while increasing daily access to nutritious produce in the area.

The takeaway

Communities can effectively combat food insecurity by leveraging grants to support established policy councils and local food initiatives. Residents should look for opportunities to engage with local community gardens to take advantage of expanded fresh food availability.