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Loan Program Unveiled For Grocery Stores

By Eileen Fleming

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-957814.mp3

New Orleans, La. – Mayor Landrieu says the money will provide forgivable or low-interest loans. Applicants must open, renovate or expand retail outlets that sell fresh fruit and vegetables where access is lacking, especially for low-income residents.
One of the applicants will be Dwayne Boudreaux, who's been trying to reopen Circle Food Store since it was flooded after Hurricane Katrina. The store in the former St. Bernard Market had been a community mainstay.

"What I am envisioning is hoping that it would look close to like what it was but just a new and modern way. We're still hoping to provide all the services that we've done in the past."

A Tulane University survey done after the storm found 60 percent of low-income residents have to travel three miles to a grocery store, but only about half own a car. Boudreaux says he hopes to reopen the Circle store by the first of next year.
For WWNO, I'm Eileen Fleming

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