Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb Proposes New Tax Credit to Retain Grocery Stores and Combat Food Deserts
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb is proposing new legislation aimed at retaining existing grocery stores and attracting new ones to the city. The proposed plan would offer job retention tax credits of up to 100% to certified 'Good Food Retailers,' directly subsidizing one of grocers' largest expenses: staff salaries. This initiative marks a shift from the city's current policy, which primarily offers job creation tax credits for companies that generate new employment. According to Deputy Director of Business Growth David Lukas, the city is willing to forgo income tax dollars to support grocers already operating within Cleveland. This move comes after the closure of two major grocery stores during Mayor Bibb's tenure—Dave’s Market in Collinwood and Heinen’s downtown—both of which cited challenging economic conditions. Historically, many of Cleveland's redlined neighborhoods have suffered from a lack of grocery stores and limited access to fresh, healthy food, with a 2018 Cuyahoga County report indicating that ha...
