Tomorrow morning, I will be joined by Congressman Elijah Cummings, City Council President Bernard "Jack" Young, and residents of the Howard Park community for a demolition at the future location of a state-of-the-art, full-service ShopRite supermarket in Northwest Baltimore. For too long, people in this community had to take long trips to get the basic ingredients they need to cook a healthy meal at home-soon they will have everything they need in their own backyard. I am particularly grateful for the members of the Howard Park Civic Association for working with the city to ensure that we could bring jobs and economic opportunity to the people of Howard Park.

Since 1999, when the Super Pride market at Liberty Heights Avenue and Hillsdale Road closed, the residents of Howard Park and the surrounding communities have been without a viable grocery option. In an effort to address this concern and fill what has become known as a "food desert," the City, in partnership with the Howard Park community, proposed the development of a full-service supermarket on a 5.6-acre site in the heart of the Howard Park Business Area.

Last month, the Board of Estimates approved an agreement with Liberty Heights Shopping Center, LLC to develop a 67,250 sq. ft. supermarket with over 200 parking spaces. When open, the store will employ over 250 people and include a pharmacy, a health suite staffed by a nurse practitioner, a bakery, an extensive seafood section, and a halal butcher to serve the growing Muslim population in the Howard Park community. ShopRite will work with the Mayor's Office of Employment Development to connect city residents with the new jobs created by this development.

As Mayor, I am committed to working with any community leader or developer who will bring jobs and economic opportunity that will strengthen our neighborhoods. ShopRite plans to be an active participant in the Howard Park community and will assist with the culinary arts program at Calvin Rodwell Elementary School (across the street from the future supermarket), among other activities. Additionally, ShopRite is proposing to establish a tuition assistance program with Baltimore City Community College for employees of the Liberty Heights ShopRite.