NEW TOWN OASIS MARKETPLACE RECEIVES FEDERAL HEALTHY FOOD FINANCING AWARD TO ADVANCE GROCERY ACCESS IN JACKSONVILLE’S NEW TOWN COMMUNITY
Jacksonville nonprofit selected among 62 recipients nationwide through USDA-backed HFFI FARE Fund
JACKSONVILLE, FL —April 21, 2026 – New Town Oasis Marketplace, Inc. (NTOM), a Jacksonville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been awarded Technical Assistance funding through America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund, administered by Reinvestment Fund.
NTOM was one of 62 projects selected from a nationally competitive applicant pool in the 2024–2025 HFFI FARE Fund cycle, which distributed $16.5 million across 42 states. The award funds a feasibility study, community food assessment, business planning, and workforce training planning — advancing NTOM’s vision of a community grocery store and mobile market in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood.
“This award is a validation of what our community has known for years — that New Town deserves real, sustainable access to healthy food,” said Wilene C. Dozier, Executive Director and Founder of New Town Oasis Marketplace. “We have been doing the groundwork site locations, building a database of underserved farmers through the southeast, produce distribution, and nutrition education. This investment brings us closer to a permanent solution the New Town residents can count on.”
Founded in 2022, NTOM has been engaging residents, identifying potential sites, and building community partnerships in the New Town corridor. This award will allow the organization to complete the formal planning work needed to move toward implementation.
America’s HFFI is a public-private partnership established by the 2014 Farm Bill and reauthorized in 2018. Its purpose is to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, support food supply chain resiliency, create and preserve quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities.
About New Town Oasis Marketplace
New Town Oasis Marketplace is a community-centric nonprofit organization located in the heart of the New Town neighborhood of Jacksonville, FL. With a focus on accessibility and nutritional education, the marketplace strives to provide fresh, affordable produce to all residents, supporting a healthier, more vibrant community.
About Reinvestment Fund
Across the country, many communities face barriers to accessing the fundamental building blocks that create the foundation for families to thrive. Reinvestment Fund is a mission-driven financial institution committed to making communities work for all people.
As a federally certified community development financial institution (CDFI), Reinvestment Fund brings financial and analytical tools to partnerships that work to ensure that everyone has access to essential opportunities: affordable places to live, access to nutritious food and health care, schools where their children can flourish, and strong, local businesses that support jobs.
The Fund uses data to understand markets, communities, and impediments to opportunity—and how investment and policy decisions can have the most powerful impact.
New Town Oasis Marketplace Awarded Grant from First Coast Relief Fund to Enhance Access to Fresh Produce in New Town Neighborhood
Jacksonville, FL – March 15, 2024 – New Town Oasis Marketplace is proud to announce it has been awarded a grant from the First Coast Relief Fund Healing Jax Effort. The funds were raised as a result of the heinous shooting and killing of Jacksonville residents on August 23, 2024. This funding is earmarked specifically to increase the availability and accessibility of fresh produce to residents, addressing critical nutritional needs and promoting healthier lifestyles within the community.
The First Coast Relief Fund is dedicated to helping Northeast Florida residents in times of natural disaster and man-made crisis by providing critical support to nonprofits. The Relief Fund — fueled by the generosity of hundreds of donors in our community — is a key supporter for the nonprofit sector, benefitting hundreds of thousands of neighbors in time of need. By providing funding to enhance the capacity to supply fresh fruits and vegetables, the grant aims to bridge the nutritional gap faced by many residents, ensuring that wholesome, nutritious food options are within reach for all.
“The grant from the First Coast Relief Fund marks a significant milestone in our mission to ensure every resident of New Town has access to fresh, affordable produce,” said Wilene Dozier, President, at New Town Oasis Marketplace. “This funding will allow us to expand our offerings and support farmers and producers of color, fostering a sustainable ecosystem of food production and consumption that benefits our entire community.”
New Town Oasis Marketplace plans to introduce a range of initiatives designed to make fresh produce more accessible. These include partnerships with farmers of color to supply seasonal fruits and vegetables, educational programs on nutrition and healthy eating, and community events that celebrate the joy of food and community spirit.
The impact of the First Coast Relief Fund’s grant extends beyond the immediate benefits of increased access to fresh food. It signifies a crucial investment in the health and vitality of the New Town neighborhood, contributing to a foundation of wellness and prosperity that will support generations to come.
For more information about the New Town Oasis Marketplace, please visit www.newtownoasis.org or contact [email protected] or follow us on social.
About New Town Oasis Marketplace
New Town Oasis Marketplace is a community-centric nonprofit organization located in the heart of the New Town neighborhood of Jacksonville, FL. With a focus on accessibility and nutritional education, the marketplace strives to provide fresh, affordable produce to all residents, supporting a healthier, more vibrant community.
About the First Coast Relief Fund
Originally conceptualized following the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando in 2016, the First Coast Relief Fund is a partnership of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida, United Way of Northeast Florida and United Way of St. Johns County.