SACRAMENTO HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CELEBRATES SUPERMARKET GRAND OPENING IN PROMISE ZONE DEL PASO HEIGHTS COMMUNITY
SACRAMENTO, CA – (RealEstateRama) — The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency joined Sacramento City officials on Thursday February 11 to celebrate the grand opening the Viva Supermarket– the first full-service grocery store to come to the Del Paso Heights community in the Promise Zone in 30 years.
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Mayor Kevin Johnson said the addition of the supermarket is just the beginning of what the community can be. “Just last week in the state and the city, we talked about investing in our priority neighborhoods in a real way and this today is a kick-off for what priority neighborhoods can be about.” The new grocery store is located in the Sacramento Promise Zone which encompasses some of the hardest hit neighborhoods in the city and county– from Del Paso Heights in the North Area to The Avenues in the South County. The Promise Zone is a federal designation awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that creates a partnership between federal, state and local agencies to give local leaders proven tools to improve the quality of life in some of Sacramento’s most vulnerable areas. In addition to providing an array of fresh produce for residents, the store will employ 40 full and part time positions, which is said to help alleviate crime levels within priority neighborhoods. “A lot of you don’t know that these communities that are now downtrodden were at one time some of the most prominent communities throughout our city,” said Council Member Allen Warren. We have a grand vision to make this the town central for Del Paso Heights, a gateway into the beautiful Del Paso Heights North Sacramento community and help it to relive its past glory.” As the lead agency to administer the Promise Zone designated last April, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency officials say the Viva Supermarket will make a significant impact in the Del Paso Heights community which is long overdue for the resources and support that this federal partnership will provide. "This full-service grocery store breathes new life into the community," said La Shelle Dozier, SHRA Executive Director. "By opening its doors here in Del Paso Heights, the Viva Supermarket helps address the goal of the Promise Zone Initiative to revitalize high-poverty communities through a variety of strategies such as increasing economic activity, creating jobs, and improving the quality of life by providing residents with access to affordable fresh food and groceries." Residents of Del Paso Heights have high expectations about the future of their community. “We just don’t want them to give up on us,” said Melanie Walthour. A resident of the Del Paso Heights Promise community, Ms.Walthour has been living in the area for 31 years, along with her sister Tomara Walthour and their family. Both women have seen the changes throughout thecommunity over the years and were excited to see a grocery store restored back into their neighborhood. “It seems unreal to know that we can shop close to where we live,” said Tomara Walthour. “To be able to support our own community means a lot.” CONTACT: Angela Jones, Public Information Officer (916) 440-1355,
