Yesterday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed SB 1065 into law, which includes $500,000 for the state’s Healthy Food Financing Incentives (HFFI) program.

The HFFI program was created by legislation the American Heart Association supported in 2017, but the program had been without funding and unable to launch.With funding now appropriated, the program will be able to support the construction or refurbishment of grocery stores in areas without access to healthy foods throughout the state. 

he budget chairs on both sides of the legislature, Representative Kevin Wallace and Senator Roger Thompson, were dedicated to include this funding, which ultimately passed unanimously in the House and with only eight 'no' votes in the Senate.

Congratulations to the American Heart Association in Oklahoma and to all advocates and volunteers who supported this campaign throughout the state!