SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is opening grants to improve access to fresh food in certain areas, and some Springfield residents hope the funding can bring a grocery store to the city’s downtown.

The grant operates under the Illinois Grocery Initiative through the New Stores in Food Deserts program. It supports new grocery stores in food deserts.

Jay Shanle is the executive director of Downtown Springfield Inc. (DSI). When DSI shared information on the grant and pitched the idea to open a grocery store downtown through its Facebook page, more than 250 people liked the post, and dozens commented in support.

“A lot of people, when we think of grocery stores, we think about what we typically interact with, which are the big box stores,” Shanle said. “This doesn’t have to be a big box store … it’s okay to start small and scale to the demand of the community and grow later.”

“You can see that with our farmer’s market, our community garden, that people do look for fresh produce for their diet,” Shanle said. “I think there’s truly a business opportunity to be had here.”

The Old Capitol Farmers Market and Salt Fork Food Hub offer groceries, but both are open one or two days a week.

Shanle said several downtown storefronts are available, ranging from small to medium in size.

Grant applications close in early December. For more details, visit the DCEO website.