Key Environmental Consulting Selected to Lead Durham County’s Food System Assessment and Strategic Plan

The County of Durham, North Carolina has selected Key Environmental Consulting, in partnership with Planning4Health Solutions, to lead the development of a comprehensive Food System Assessment and 10-Year Strategic Plan. 

The project will examine how food is produced, distributed, and accessed across the county, and will recommend strategies to strengthen local food networks, improve coordination among partners, and enhance long-term community resilience. 

“This initiative will allow Durham County to take a data-informed look at how food moves through our communities,” said Kibri Hutchison Everett, Principal of Key Environmental Consulting. “By combining community input with spatial analysis and policy research, we can better understand where the system is working well, and where opportunities for improvement exist.” 

The project will include a robust spatial analysis of the county’s food environment. Using GIS technology, the KEC team will map food retailers, transportation routes, and existing food infrastructure to visualize patterns of accessibility and identify areas with limited options for healthy, affordable food. These findings will be integrated with demographic, transit, and land-use data to guide future planning and investment decisions. 

Planning4Health Solutions, led by Dr. Michelle Eichinger, will support the public health and food systems planning components of the project. Dr. Eichinger brings two decades of experience helping local governments align planning and health initiatives to strengthen community well-being. 

“Durham has a strong foundation of collaboration among farmers, nonprofits, and local agencies,” said Dr. Eichinger. “This project will build on that work to help the County coordinate efforts and create a clear roadmap for the future of its food system.” 

The 18-month effort will result in a data-driven strategic plan outlining specific goals, programs, and partnerships to help the County and its collaborators advance sustainable food production, efficient distribution, and reliable access for all residents.