Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has approved $1.7 million in funding for a new grocery support initiative that pairs the city with the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) to expand food access in underserved neighborhoods.

The partnership, announced through the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED), will task IGA with conducting grocery store market analyses in eight neighborhoods. The studies will gauge the potential for new grocery stores and determine which types of grocery retail best fit different communities based on their needs and existing access to food.

IGA brings a century of experience to the effort. "IGA has supported independent grocers for 100 years," said John Ross, president and CEO of IGA. "Our partnership with the city of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta and Savi Provisions to launch Azalea Fresh Market showed what public-private partnerships can do to improve community food access."

Ross added: "We're excited to help strengthen the Seattle independent grocer community while ensuring that fresh, healthy food is within reach of all Seattle residents."

Under the initiative, IGA will provide a year of technical assistance to 10 independently owned grocery stores. The city will match that support with municipal funding for essential improvements. Legacy grocery stores and stores in underserved neighborhoods will receive priority.

The program builds on an existing pilot between the OED and Lam's Seafood Asian Market. As Lam's prepares to open its third location, the OED has helped the business navigate permits and covered the cost of repairs following recent break-ins. The agency is now evaluating security improvements ahead of the store's opening. The new location will fill a storefront that has sat vacant for eight years.

Seattle will also partner with supermarkets experiencing high rates of retail theft to fund one-time security and facility upgrades. The city will select projects based on crime data from the Seattle Police Department and input from the community.

The Seattle OED said it is finalizing details on contracting, cohort selection and distribution of funding for the new grocery storefront security grants.

Wilson framed the investment in direct terms. "We are supporting local grocers because neighborhood stores play a vital role in making our city more affordable and livable," she said.

The initiative gives Seattle a template that other cities can watch closely: IGA's earlier Atlanta collaboration suggests the public-private model can move from market analysis to an operating store, and the Seattle program adds security funding as a tool for keeping existing independents in place.