FLINT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The city of Flint is looking at giving as much as $450,000 of COVID-19 pandemic money to support the North Flint Food Market Cooperative.

The city’s Finance Committee recently reviewed the recommendations for two separate proposals for $300,000 and $150,000 to go to the co-op which opened in November.

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Proponents of the North Flint Food Market Cooperative say it is necessary because a food desert now exists in that area.

Ten years ago, Meijer and Kroger closed the stores in that part of town. The chains stated in media reports they could not make money at the outlets in that area.

On its website, Flint’s first cooperative grocery states, “A co-op is different from a traditional grocery story because it is owned by its members. Community members and organizations can purchase memberships as an investment during the store’s development.”

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation gave $3.6 million to support the food co-op.