Grant sought to bring new life to ShopRite
RockyTop’s only supermarket, which closed in July 2018, could see new life if the owner receives a federal grant to help with reopening expenses under a program to help communities without grocery stores. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
Donna M. Sharp, owner of the ShopRite building at 108 Creek St. and a member of the family who previously operated the supermarket, in November created a company called Fresh ‘n Friendly Foods, LLC, which is applying for grant money to reopen the store, according to state and county records and Rocky Top city officials.
Sharp acknowledged that she is trying to obtain the grant, but said she had no other information to share yet, as everything is still pending.
The money would come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which, according to its website (rd.usda.gov/about-rd/initiatives/healthy-food-financing-initiative), “aims to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, to create and preserve quality jobs, and to revitalize low-income communities.”
“The program aims to build a more-equitable food system that supports the health and economic vibrancy of all Americans,” the website says, and “provides capacity building and financial resources to eligible healthy food retail projects to overcome the higher costs and initial barriers to entry in underserved areas.”
Grants of $20,000 to $200,000 are available as “one-time investments of capital into a food retail or food enterprise project,” the website notes, adding: “Grant funds could assist with a variety of project needs, including pre-development, brick-and-mortar facility development, other hard capital costs, equipment needs, and one-time soft costs including training, consulting needs, marketing, or merchandising.”
The Anderson County Commission last week passed a resolution endorsing Sharp’s effort to obtain the grant, noting in the measure that “many voids have been created due to [Rocky Top businesses] closing, and in particular the town has been left with no grocery store to service the area for citizens to purchase food, sundries and other necessities.”
“The closest grocery store is over nine miles away,” the county resolution noted. “A grocery store in the area would not only serve the citizens of Rocky Top, but also the entire region consisting of Brice-ville, New River, North Clinton, lower Campbell County and a host of residents and vacationers visiting the Norris Lake area. …”
Rocky Top City Manager Michael Foster said Sharp has informed city officials of her plans and has asked for support in getting the grant. But he also said the store building remains up for sale, and that Sharp still would prefer to sell it to someone else who would reopen it as a grocery store.
“It’s been closed since July 2018,” Foster said, adding that the city so far has not been able to find any grocery chain willing to open a supermarket in Rocky Top.
The Dollar General Store on Norris Freeway between Main Street and Interstate 75 does offer a limited selection of grocery items, including some fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as some cold and frozen food products. But it is not a full supermarket.
The County Commission’s resolution speaks of growth in Rocky Top, including visitors riding in from the off-road trails west of town, and the need for a grocery store, noting:
“Rocky Top is currently experiencing high growth with new homes and campgrounds being built daily to handle the tremendous influx of people visiting Windrock Mountain Park, the largest privately owned recreational area on the East Coast;
“Anderson County and the state of Tennessee have partnered to provide legal access on public roads for off-road recreational vehicles to drive into town to pick up needed provisions and services in Rocky Top;
“And the above-cited factors create a much needed opportunity for a grocery store and other businesses to serve not only the citizens of the area, but the large amount of families visiting Norris Lake and Windrock Mountain Park.”
In conclusion, the resolution says:
“Anderson County government and the city of Rocky Top have been fully supportive of any businesses wishing to relocate and take advantage of this large business opportunity, and have adopted several business incentives and lowered the threshold investment to qualify for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Payments in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) programs in an effort to stimulate growth.
“Now therefore be it resolved by the Anderson County Board of Commissioners … that we fully support economic growth in the Rocky Top area and specifically applications for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative such as the Fresh n’ Friendly Foods, LLC, pending application.
“Be it further resolved that we proudly and wholeheartedly endorse this specific application and hope that the needed approval comes expeditiously, so this business and many other businesses can take advantage of the large and underserved customer base.”
No details have yet been released for when a grant decision might be made, how much money the developer is seeking, or when the store might reopen if the grant is approved.
Foster said no further information is available at this time.
Sharp said she would share her plans after she gets word that the gant has been approved, if it is.
