Oasis Fresh Market

PROJECT PURPOSE

One million Oklahomans live in food deserts. Food deserts represent our most underserved communities and experience higher unemployment, morbidity and mortality rates, lower education and incomes, limited transportation, and lower life expectancy. Various sectors have long-offered grocery stores as an evidence-based, best-practice solution to resolving food deserts and reducing disparity gaps in underserved communities. Oasis Fresh Market is a full-service grocery store, established mid-pandemic, to eradicate food deserts by providing fresh and healthy access to all, but aims to revitalize communities through building stronger economies, enhancing access to state services, and improving infrastructure. In partnership with public health and healthcare entities, universities, and state and local agencies, we are perfecting the Oasis model, and seeking $50 million to scale to seven more communities, impacting 400,000 vulnerable Oklahomans, cutting food deserts almost in half statewide. Economically disadvantaged communities are selected on the following: 1) USDA-classified food desert, 2) an ?Enterprise Zone,? 3) a TIF district (or potential), 4) experience socioeconomic and other disparities 5) and strong community stakeholder commitment and fiscal matching. Through sustained life change, this model will catalyze underserved communities into thriving, productive communities and change the lives of millions of Oklahomans, both in this generation and in generations to come.

EVIDENCE

None

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Oasis Fresh Market?s expansion strategy is meticulously thought through and advised by various governmental bodies including, but not limited to, the Departments of Commerce, Human Services, Transportation, Agriculture, and Oklahoma?s Health Care Authority, Employment Security Commision. Preliminarily identified target communities meet the following criteria: 1) USDA-classified food desert, 2) HUD Qualified Census Tract 3) an ?Enterprise Zone,? 4) a TIF district (or potential), 5) socioeconomic, education and health disparities 6) strong community stakeholder commitment with fiscal matching. The seven preliminarily identified communities are West Tulsa, Boley, Okmulgee, Wagoner, Muskogee, Pryor, and Pawhuska, representing an approximate combined reach of 400,000. This strategy ensures that funds will be invested in Oklahoma?s most economically disadvantaged, disproportionately affected, and underserved communities, many of which are racial minority communities.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Guided by the Department of the Treasury?s Compliance and Reporting Guidance manual for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, the Oasis Fresh Market executive team will ensure that project reports and necessary data are submitted to the appropriate governing bodies in a timely manner. The Oasis executive team meets monthly, (and more frequently as necessary), and as such will be well-positioned to provide the necessary quarterly and annual reports and programmatic data. Each member of the executive team commits to being intimately familiar with and following all of the guidelines contained within the Reporting Guidance manual.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma