Members of the Chicago City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal to provide funding and a bus to a program that helps make fresh produce available to residents of Chicago’s food deserts. 

The Chicago Department of Fleet and Facility management recommended the city donate a bus and give $110,000 to Growing Power Inc., a nonprofit organization. According to its website, Growing Power is dedicated to improving access to healthy, affordable food through “hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach and technical assistance through the development of Community Food Systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner.” Growing Power received federal funding to launch its mobile program. The bus, which was used by the Chicago Public Library until 2009, would allow Growing Power Inc. to deliver produce to food deserts on the city's South and West sides.  

Jennifer Muss, deputy commissioner with the Department of Fleet and Facility Management, said the mobile food program will help Growing Power deliver locally-sourced produce to approximately 2,200 locations, including health clinics, schools, child day care centers, farmers markets and parks. 

Along with the bus, the ordinance called for $110,000 to be allocated to Growing Power. Muss explained, "$50,000 will go toward fuel [costs] and $60,000 in maintenance services.”  

Also on Tuesday, the City Council’s Aviation Committee unanimously approved the appointment of Ginger Evans as the city’s next aviation commissioner. Evans most recently served as the engineering vice president for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, a position she has held since February 2014, the Chicago Tribune reported.  

According to a press release from the Mayor’s Office, Evans was a senior vice president for Parsons Construction Group before joining the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.  Evans' LinkedIn page stated she managed a $2.7 billion capital budget and $8 million annual operating budget as associate director of aviation and chief of new airport construction for Denver International Airport between 1986 and 1994.  

If the full City Council approves her appointment Wednesday, Evans will succeed former Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino, who vacated the position in November. 

The Tribune noted Evans will face challenges as commissioner that include addressing jet noise complaints from people living near O’Hare and determining how to proceed with plans for the final phase of runway development and terminal space expansion at the Northwest Side airport.

 “I’m very excited by Ginger’s appointment,” Ald. Raymond Lopez (15^th) told the Daily Whale Tuesday. Lopez, who worked for Southwest Airlines for 12 years, said Evans’s experience working in aviation will bring a wealth of understanding to the position. “She understands that airlines are not our adversary. They’re our part and parcel stakeholder just as the community [is] in dealing with airport problems,” he said. “I’m very excited about that future.”