Norwood Young America hopes to attract grocery store, end food desert

There is an effort in a town west of the Twin Cities to bring a grocery store to town.

Norwood Young America has been without a grocery store for more than two years since Econofoods closed in 2019.

City leaders say the community is growing and they’re doing everything they can to attract an independent grocery store.

“Our grocery store closing was a shock to everybody. It was huge,” said Karen Hallquist, economic development and marketing director for Norwood Young America. “We have incentive packages. We’ve done cold calls, reached out with letters and packets trying to do our due diligence as much as we can.”

The city bus schedule in Norwood Young America includes a once-a-week trip to grocery stores in nearby towns.