With the East Tampa community and Mayor Bob Buckhorn joining her, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced today a $759,000 grant that will help revitalize the neighborhood, leading to a new grocery store and more jobs for area residents.

“We are bringing jobs and redevelopment to the heart of East Tampa with the construction of a new grocery store,” Castor said. “This is a vital piece of the community’s economic development plan, which will bring jobs for residents and hopefully this site will attract local small businesses too. With this grant, we are investing in an area that needs help and a catalyst for redevelopment.”

The redevelopment project is slated for 22^nd Street and Mallory Avenue. One of the lots is the site of the former Gene’s Bar. The city bought the nuisance property several years ago with an eye toward revitalizing the site and bringing more businesses to the neighborhood.

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The effort is also supported by two $400,000 brown fields grants, including one awarded to East Tampa through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

According to the Corporation to Develop Communities, about 40 percent of the community’s residents have low access to supermarkets.

“East Tampa residents need greater access to a full-service grocery store,” Castor said. “This revitalization effort will serve as a catalyst to help not only the economic health but also the physical health of the residents who live here.”