<p> Whole Foods Market, together with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Ald. Jo Ann Thompson, announced plans to open a new Whole Foods Market store in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side in 2016.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The new 18,000 square-foot store will bring an estimated 100 jobs to the intersection of South Halsted and West 63rd Streets and provide convenient access to fresh, healthy natural and organic food for residents of Englewood and South Side neighborhoods, according to a press release. This new store opening is part of Mayor Emanuel’s economic development and food access plan to work with the community and local businesses to develop stronger retail support for the surrounding areas and to combat food deserts.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“I have worked with Whole Foods Market for the last year and a half to invest in one of our oldest neighborhoods and address a pressing need for fresh, healthy food, and I’m proud to announce this wonderful new facility that will help meet this need while creating a strong economic anchor in this community,” said Mayor Emanuel. “I am completely committed to ensuring that all Chicagoans have access to fresh, quality, and affordable food in their neighborhoods. This store will not only provide these important resources, but it will also create jobs and spur economic growth – a true win-win.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">In addition to the new opening, Whole Kids Foundation will direct $20,000 in funding to support schools and community organizations in the Englewood area. The foundation will also provide free Healthy Teacher nutrition education and cooking programs to educators in Englewood and citywide.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“We are honored and excited to be asked by Mayor Emanuel to join in these efforts to make fresh, healthy food more widespread in Chicago,” said Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market. “His challenge to me last April helped us to consider new business models to provide fresh food and economic development in neighborhoods that need it most. We look forward to joining organizations and community members to envision and develop a store that meets the needs of Englewood.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><script type='text/javascript' src='http://CBSCHI.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=397207;hostDomain=video.chicago.cbslocal.com;playerWidth=385;playerHeight=288;isShowIcon=true;clipId=9271430;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=CBS.CHI%252Fworldnowplayer;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=fixed'></script><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://video.chicago.cbslocal.com" title=""></a><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" udio controls><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> <source src="http://cbschicago.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/wholefoods-090413-w1.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Your browser does not support the audio element.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"></source></audio><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">When this new store opens, 2,648 residents in Englewood will be within a mile of a grocery store, contributing a 3.3% decline in the total residents living in low-income areas who are more than a mile from a large grocery store. The announcement of this opening signals a major step forward in the economic development for the area and in healthy food availability, providing a convenient, quality option for the approximately 30,000 residents of Englewood.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com" target="_new"> Whole Foods Market </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
