Baltimore Signed Healthy Food Access Act Into Law

Mayor Brandon Scott enacted new legislation to bolster fresh food retailers in underserved neighborhoods.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Healthy Food

Bold vector illustration of a wooden crate overflowing with fresh vegetables on a brick surface, clean editorial illustration. — Mayor Brandon Scott signed the Community Healthy Food Access Act, establishing a grant program to bolster fresh food retailers in underserved Baltimore neighborhoods. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your city provide direct financial subsidies to local stores to increase access to fresh food?

Mayor Brandon Scott has signed the Community Healthy Food Access Act, creating a grant program for local food retailers. The initiative aims to reduce food insecurity by providing financial and technical support to small and full-size grocery stores.

Why it matters

This legislation seeks to rectify disparities in food access within the city. By codifying the Food Policy and Planning Division, the city aims to provide long-term infrastructure for residents in underserved areas.

Small grocery stores accepting SNAP and WIC may receive up to $250,000 in grant funding, while full-size stores are eligible for up to $100,000. These programs target priority areas where 84% of residents are Black.

The players

Brandon Scott

Brandon Scott serves as the Mayor of Baltimore and is the official who signed the new food access legislation.

Baltimore Development Corp.

The Baltimore Development Corp. is the agency responsible for providing funding and managing the new grant program.

The details

The Baltimore Development Corp. will oversee the grants, which include business planning and technology integration support. Recipients are required to host annual community listening sessions to ensure product selection aligns with neighborhood needs.

August 2026: Enrollment in SNAP reached 136,000 residents.
October 5, 2026: Mayor Scott officially signed the legislation into law.
January 2027: The city expects the grant application system to be operational.

Culture Shift

This move reflects a broader societal shift toward municipal-level intervention in correcting food deserts through targeted public-private partnerships. It moves away from passive market reliance and toward active infrastructure investment in community-level health.

Residents in identified healthy food priority areas may see improved access to fresh produce and essential grocery items at local retailers. Customers at these stores can expect shops to better accommodate SNAP and WIC payment technologies.

The takeaway

The law provides a financial framework for local retailers to improve their services in underserved communities. Business owners interested in the program should prepare for upcoming application processes by documenting their SNAP and WIC eligibility status.