Niagara Falls City Council

Healthy Food Healthy People; New York State Health Foundation

This plan provides a framework, composed of four priority areas with sub-themes, that demonstrate clear and tangible steps that can be taken to improve food systems in the City of Niagara Falls. The four priority areas consist of: (1) agriculture; (2) healthy neighborhoods; (3) education; and (4) economic development with supporting sub-themes, such as proposed actions (measures to be taken in order to reach goals of priority areas) and promising practices (examples of other models, programs, projects, or organizations across the country that exhibit the Local Food Action Plan’s proposed actions). Prior to finalizing the plan in 2018, surveys were administered to Niagara Falls residents to identify communities’ baseline ideas and interests for local healthy food improvements. By gauging community needs, goals such as improving (farmers’) market operations and increasing access and food procurement for residents have been created to improve the food environment of the city. This resident-centered plan offers recommendations and guides to organizations, planners, and residents with steps to mitigate challenges facing the city’s food system and resident adversities, such as chronic disease and poor socioeconomic conditions.