HB 1034

Abstract

Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Fund and Grant Program; political subdivisions. Establishes the Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Fund and directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to establish a Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Grant Program for infrastructure development projects that support local food production and sustainable farming. The bill directs the Department to award grants to political subdivisions for projects that include the establishment or maintenance of farmers markets; businesses or organizations that manage the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of food products primarily from local and regional producers; and primarily locally owned processing facilities. Any political subdivision that is awarded a grant is required to oversee the spending of the grant and provide an annual report and a final report to the Department. The bill provides parameters for the payment of the grant amount to each political subdivision and establishes requirements for verification of compliance with award criteria by such political subdivision.

Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Fund;Grant Program. Establishes the Local Food and Farming InfrastructureFund and directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Servicesto establish a Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Grant Programfor infrastructure development projects that support local food productionand sustainable farming. The bill directs the Department to awardgrants for projects that include the establishment or maintenanceof farmers markets; businesses or organizations that manage the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of food products primarily from localand regional producers; and primarily locally owned processing facilities.The Department is required to adopt project eligibility criteria that favor projects that create infrastructure in proximity to small-scale rural agricultural producers.