This week, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Cleveland was granted with, well, a grant. Tremont received $742,000 from the federal Department of Health and Human Services to develop a Constantino’s Market in the area.

The grant was given as part of the department’s initiative to prevent what it calls “food deserts,” or urban areas with little access to grocery stores and markets. In these areas, low income families are more likely to turn to fast food chains or convenience stores for food, leading to unhealthy lifestyles and increases in obesity and heart disease. A weekly farmer’s market in Tremont’s Lincoln Park has routinely accepted the most food stamps of any other market in the region, making a new grocery store a welcome sight.

Though the federal government just dropped a lot of dough on this project, Tremont still needs upwards of $1.5 million to complete the $2.5-million project. The plan entails renovating an empty mansion on West 14th Street and Fairfield Avenue and moving in a Constantino’s. 

In addition to supplying the area with access to fresh produce, the arrival of Constantino’s Market brings with it 30 new full-time jobs and dozens more part-time positions. 

The market’s projected to open its doors in about two years, joining the other three Constantino’s in the area. 

This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 6, 2015.

Brittany is a blogging intern who keeps the web up-to-date with news stories and blogs. Before her internship at Cleveland Scene, she wrote for the video game news site Revue Labs as well as oversaw Kent State University’s diversity publication Fusion Magazine. Brittany is originally from New Jersey but is currently residing in Kent, Ohio where she is finishing up her journalism degree at Kent State. She appreciates good coffee, good pizza and well-behaved cats.

3 replies on “Tremont Secures Grant for Constantino’s Market”

  1. This is precisely what is wrong with Cleveland. Why can’t we put a nice grocery store on the city’s east side, where real food deserts truly exist. Tremont residents have the West Side Market nearby, in addition to Dave’s in Ohio City and Wal-Mart SuperCenter & Aldi’s at Steelyard Commons. So much effort from the city is always focused on Ohio City, Tremont, and Downtown, where “hipsters” and plenty of individuals and couples with money live or are moving. Just look at the cost of buying a home in Tremont- it’s far more expensive than anywhere else in the city. If the city were truly focused on helping its status, it would put just as much energy in helping the far underserved poor east side neighborhoods.

  3. First post hits the nail on the head. Tremont is a “food desert?!?” This a gross misuse of grant money intended for poor, urban areas.

Comments are closed.