Local Government Food Policy Database

Travis County local government; Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Central Health

The Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan provides a road map with intent to leverage the city’s strengths while addressing the negative changes (i.e., loss of natural and open space, poverty, food insecurity, child hunger, and inadequate healthcare) that have become prevalent in the city in recent decades. To address these issues, the plan establishes six areas to assess key challenges and create opportunities for change: (1) preserving livability; (2) expanding transportation choices; (3) tackling the ethnic divide; (4) protecting natural resources; (5) promoting prosperity for all; and (6) collaborating regionally. Under this framework, the city of Austin addresses food related challenges by establishing policies and programs that aid in the development of a sustainable local food system. Some examples include the promotion of the availability to and education about food for residents, the city’s Create a Healthy Austin program which aims to support farm-to-school programs and enact strategies that influence federal food and nutrition programs, and implementing initiatives that make healthy foods accessible and affordable. For each priority program or policy, the plan outlines short-term goals, long term goals, and key challenges for the future that correlate to the six challenge areas. The latest updates on the progress of the plan are outlined in the Imagine Austin 2018 Annual Report.