The City Council of Superior has awarded its final Food Insecurity Grant on December 16. This grant program was set up in November to support residents as concerns grew over potential cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits caused by a federal government shutdown. A total of $200,000 was allocated from the city’s economic development fund, with grants available until the year’s end.
Since launching, the program has distributed $91,000 to the Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency and $21,740 to Faith United Methodist Church. Recently, Zion Lutheran Church received a $10,000 grant, benefiting about 50 people daily from its food shelf.
Mayor Jim Paine highlighted the importance of the grant, stating, “This is our last opportunity to spend this money.” He noted that other applications did not meet program requirements. Even with this final grant, approximately $77,260 will be returned to the economic development fund.
In other council news, they adopted new guidelines for replacing lead service lines, with a $1 million contract approved for engineering this project set for 2026. This move is in line with a federal mandate to replace all lead and galvanized pipes. Property owners won’t incur replacement costs, as city representatives will evaluate the pipes.
The council also amended the city’s retail license for tobacco products to ban vending machines, addressing concerns about youth access. Additionally, they approved the 2026 budgets for stormwater and wastewater, keeping fees unchanged despite rising costs.
Over the past year, these efforts reflect a broader trend in communities addressing food insecurity and public health, especially as many local governments focus on sustainability and health equity. According to a recent study by the Food Research and Action Center, food insecurity rates increased from 10.5% in 2020 to 14.3% in 2022, emphasizing the need for continued support in local initiatives.
For more detailed insights on food insecurity trends and local government responses, you can visit the Food Research and Action Center.
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Food shelves in Superior,Superior City Council,lead pipes ,stormwater fees,wastewater fees
