City of Bloomington, IN | Climate Action Dashboard
© 2025
In Bloomington, Indiana, food insecurity is a significant concern, affecting individuals and families who face challenges in consistently accessing nutritious and affordable meals. This issue, influenced by economic disparities, touches on the daily realities of our community members, with some having to balance the cost of living against their nutritional needs.
The City of Bloomington is committed to addressing the challenges of food insecurity and improving food access within the community. As part of this effort, the City has invested in community gardens, a food access report, and other important initiatives.
One of these initiatives is a local food grants program for distributing money to nonprofits and other other initiatives in the City focused on increasing the local food supply. These efforts fund projects like a sustainable gardening initiative and the purchasing of local produce as a donation to low-income residents.
As a result of two climate resilience community workshops held in 2023, an Urban Gardening Implementation Team is also being created to explore ways to increase urban food production throughout Bloomington.
Goal FA 1. Increase food and nutrition security citywide
Preventative Public Health
Tackling food insecurity serves as a form of preventative public health, reducing the incidence of diet-related diseases by providing consistent access to healthy food choices. Moreover, it can decrease healthcare costs over time, as better nutrition is linked to lower rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.
Racial & Social Equity
Combating food insecurity fosters racial and social equity by directly addressing the disproportionate impact it has on specific groups within the community; as mentioned in the 2021 Food Access Report, individuals who identify as Latinx/Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, alongside non-binary residents, face significant challenges in accessing food. Remedying these disparities is crucial to leveling the playing field and promoting health equity across all racial and social lines.
| Action | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Increase the local food supply | |
 | Combat food insecurity in Bloomington |
