Urban & Rural Food Security and Agriculture Initiative

Food Freedom and Agriculture Equity Act

Restoring Dignity, Access, and Ownership in Our Food Systems – Urban and Rural

Overview:
The Food Freedom and Agriculture Equity Act empowers families and communities in Illinois’ 1st Congressional District — both urban and rural — to take control of their food systems. This initiative supports the development of neighborhood-led gardens, cooperative farms, mobile produce operations, and local food-based entrepreneurship through targeted funding, land access, and small business protection.

The Problem:
Whether you're living on the South Side of Chicago or in the agricultural belt near Kankakee, the ability to access fresh, healthy food has become more difficult than it should be. In urban neighborhoods, food deserts persist.

In rural areas, corporate farming often squeezes out local growers and processors. This dual crisis leads to poorer health outcomes, economic stagnation, and a growing disconnect between people and their food.

Why It Matters to Black Communities (and All of IL-1):
Black Americans have a long legacy of agricultural knowledge and self-sufficiency — from community gardens to Black-owned farms. But overregulation has pushed many families out of food production. This act helps reclaim that legacy while also uplifting every resident of the district who wants to grow, sell, or share food in their own neighborhood.

Whether you’re a grandmother planting greens in Englewood, a young farmer on inherited land outside Bourbonnais, or a local food co-op trying to bring affordable produce to the community — this act is for you.

Key Solutions:

• Urban and Rural Food Enterprise Zones:
  Designate zones in both city neighborhoods and rural areas where food growers, sellers, and processors can access tax credits, business grants, and zoning relief for projects that increase local food access and create jobs.

• Community Agriculture Startup Grants:
  Establish competitive federal grants (up to $100,000 per project) to fund urban gardens, small family farms, rooftop agriculture, neighborhood compost hubs, and cooperative produce delivery operations.

• Land Access Equity Program:
  Partner with land banks, local governments, and USDA programs to prioritize access to vacant lots, unused public land, and low-cost leases for residents who want to start gardens or small farming operations. Special emphasis will be given to projects led by Black farmers, first-time growers, and community organizations.

• Food Freedom for Micro-Entrepreneurs:
  Eliminate federal and state red tape that prevents residents from legally selling baked goods, canned products, or grown produce from their homes or small shops. Protect culturally rooted food businesses like juice bars, herbal shops, and cottage kitchens from excessive regulation.

• Nutrition & Agriculture Workforce Pipeline:
  Create hands-on educational pipelines in partnership with schools, faith groups, and trade centers to train youth and returning citizens in agriculture, food processing, environmental science, and food entrepreneurship. Link these programs to apprenticeship tracks and micro-credentials.

Impact for IL-1:

• Restores community power over food supply.

• Bridges the rural-urban divide through shared investment in land, health, and local jobs.

• Honors cultural and historical traditions while empowering future generations to thrive.

• Supports food justice without bloating government — focused on access, not handouts.

• Builds community resilience in the face of inflation and global supply chain instability.

Bottom Line:
Whether you're farming land in rural Will County or growing kale in a raised bed on the West Pullman sidewalk, you deserve the tools to feed your family, grow your income, and be a part of something bigger. The Food Freedom and Agriculture Equity Act will make sure of that — with dignity, opportunity, and freedom.