COAL VALLEY, Ill. (KWQC) - Fareway recently broke ground on a new location at the southeast corner of First Street and Route 6, marking progress in a city effort that has been ongoing since 2008 to address the community’s food desert status.

“Everybody wants to be able to get what they need in the community they live in, and this is going to be a big part, a big goal for that,” Beckwith said.

The project represents the culmination of years of work by city officials to bring grocery access back to Coal Valley, which has been without a full-service grocery store for 15 years.

Store selection targets smaller communities

Fareway officials said they choose smaller communities for this exact reason.

“We’re going to be bringing jobs to the community. Anywhere from 50 to 80 jobs. Hopefu

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