Alexandria, LA-USDA Rural Development provided a Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan for $5 million to refinance debt on existing facilities owned by Ford Holdings, LLC, and the construction of a new 19,500 square foot grocery store, purchase machinery, equipment, inventory, and other costs associated with the project.

The area chosen to construct the facility is designated as a "Food Desert." Food Desert areas are predominately residential and under-served. The newly constructed grocery store is accessible for outlying rural areas and will create jobs generating income for families in the surrounding areas. This project is located in a hurricane impacted and persistent poverty area.