City of Columbia’s Beltline Project to Help End Food Desert in North Columbia

City to open co-op grocery store that'll be operated and owned by the North Columbia Community

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)- City officials are working on a project that will address residents concerns that they don’t have access to healthy and affordable food in North Columbia.

“When those tourist dollars come in there is nothing on North Main or Farrow Road that says stop and shop,” resident Barbara Greene said.

Gas stations and corner store markets that residents say lack nutritious food options fill the North Columbia community, and residents are feed up.

“I know sometimes the social economic conditions of a community can precludes certain things but I think this area is for fine dinning and things of that sort,” Greene said.

Many who live in the Beltline area don’t have reliable transportation to healthy and affordable food.

“How do we help deal with some of the major needs regarding hunger,” Mayor Steve Benjamin said. “We know that there are a number of people from 8 to 80 that are not getting access to food on a regular basis.”

Benjamin says the city is working on a Beltline Project.

“We’re doing a feasibility study right now to see if we feel that this can work,” Benjamin said. “I’m convinced that this is a high quality endeavor that other communities will want the same exact thing.”

The project will turn a roughly 23 acre forest into a co-op grocery store.

“People who live in that community will own this grocery store, earn more than a living wage and take control of their future,” Benjamin said.

The project will also feature an urban farm, a large park, and baseball field.

“Its an example of the community coming together and taking control of its future,” Benjamin said.