DALLAS -- The City of Dallas couple possibly offer $3 million to help recruit a big, full-service, grocery store to Southern Dallas.
The money would be part of a new Notice of Funding Available strategy the Economic Development staff would use to convince a big name grocer to invest in areas known as food deserts.
The move comes one week after the city offered the same incentive to build a Costco in North Dallas.
Neighbors in Southern Dallas are applauding the Economic Development Committee's approval of the funding and potential tax abatement incentives.
A red corner store is the most convenient place families in Roy Hart's neighborhood on Colonial Street can travel to buy groceries.
Options are limited, and Hart says some foods are sold at a high price.
"if you buy canned goods it's like double the price," he said.
Neighbors in this South Dallas community live in what's called a "food desert." It's a community more than 10 miles away from a full-service grocery store.
"They put everything so far away from us," Hart said. "And we are paying the same taxes."
The lack of access to a full service market is a common complaint you'll also hear from neighbors in the Southern Dallas community of Bonton.
"it's very frustrating," said Joenell Greyson.
Greyson, who gets around in a wheelchair, says groceries at the corner store near her home on Bexar Street are sometimes over priced or outdated.
Greyson says she travels about 10 miles to a full service grocery store outside of Oak Cliff. She says the travel is a hassle.
"I've got cancer," she said.
Right now, there's a new push at Dallas City Hall to attract name brand, full service, grocery chains that can bring healthy and nutritious options to Southern Dallas.
"My philosophy has been let's limit the excuses," said District Three council member Casey Thomas as he addressed city staff during an Economic Development meeting on Monday.
The committee just approved putting millions of dollars on the table. It is a public-private funding incentive focused on bringing grocers willing to open a 50,000-square-foot store in food desert communities, including Oak Cliff, South Dallas, The Cedars, and Jubilee park among others.
"It would be really a blessing, man, for the older people," Hart said.
In the past, city workers say they have only had direct conversations with some grocers. Allegedly, some were afraid families in Southern Dallas would not spend money. City leaders say that perception is not the reality.
"Oak Cliff, in particular, we have money to spend." said Kiyundra Gulley, president of Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce.
Gulley and many neighbors are applauding the City's efforts to offer incentives to attract businesses to Southern Dallas.
"I think that the City putting some incentives on the table to attract grocers is a wonderful opportunity, not only for the community, but grocers as well," Gulley added.
Economic Development staff said the proposal could go before the full City Council in June 2016.