US CODE: Title 7,2034. Assistance for community food projects

TITLE 7 > CHAPTER 51 > § 2034

§ 2034. Assistance for community food projects

(a) “Community food projects” defined

In this section, the term “community food project” means a community-based project that requires a 1-time infusion of Federal assistance to become self-sustaining and that is designed to—

(1)

(A) meet the food needs of low-income people;

(B) increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and

(2) meet specific State, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs for—

(A) infrastructure improvement and development;

(B) planning for long-term solutions; or

(C) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

(b) Authority to provide assistance

(1) In general

From amounts made available to carry out this chapter, the Secretary may make grants to assist eligible private nonprofit entities to establish and carry out community food projects.

(2) Limitation on grants

The total amount of funds provided as grants under this section may not exceed—

(A) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1996; and

(B) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1997 through 2007.

To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b) of this section, a private nonprofit entity must—

(1) have experience in the area of—

(A) community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-sized farms, including the provision of food to people in low-income communities and the development of new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers; or

(B) job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities;

(2) demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; and

(3) demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.

(d) Preference for certain projects

In selecting community food projects to receive assistance under subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall give a preference to projects designed to—

(1) develop linkages between 2 or more sectors of the food system;

(2) support the development of entrepreneurial projects;

(3) develop innovative linkages between the for-profit and nonprofit food sectors; or

(4) encourage long-term planning activities, and multisystem, interagency approaches with multistakeholder collaborations, that build the long-term capacity of communities to address the food and agricultural problems of the communities, such as food policy councils and food planning associations.

(e) Matching funds requirements

(1) Requirements

The Federal share of the cost of establishing or carrying out a community food project that receives assistance under subsection (b) of this section may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project during the term of the grant.

(2) Calculation

In providing for the non-Federal share of the cost of carrying out a community food project, the entity receiving the grant shall provide for the share through a payment in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services.

(3) Sources

An entity may provide for the non-Federal share through State government, local government, or private sources.

(f) Term of grant

(1) Single grant

A community food project may be supported by only a single grant under subsection (b) of this section.

(2) Term

The term of a grant under subsection (b) of this section may not exceed 3 years.

(g) Technical assistance and related information

(1) Technical assistance

In carrying out this section, the Secretary may provide technical assistance regarding community food projects, processes, and development to an entity seeking the assistance.

(2) Sharing information

(A) In general

The Secretary may provide for the sharing of information concerning community food projects and issues among and between government, private for-profit and nonprofit groups, and the public through publications, conferences, and other appropriate forums.

(B) Other interested parties

The Secretary may share information concerning community food projects with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.

(h) Innovative programs for addressing common community problems

(1) In general

The Secretary shall offer to enter into a contract with, or make a grant to, 1 nongovernmental organization that meets the requirements of paragraph (2) to coordinate with Federal agencies, States, political subdivisions, and nongovernmental organizations (collectively referred to in this subsection as “targeted entities”) to gather information, and recommend to the targeted entities, innovative programs for addressing common community problems, including—

(A) loss of farms and ranches;

(B) rural poverty;

(D) hunger;

(E) the need for job training; and

(F) the need for self-sufficiency by individuals and communities.

(2) Nongovernmental organization

The nongovernmental organization referred to in paragraph (1) shall—

(A) be selected by the Secretary on a competitive basis;

(B) be experienced in working with other targeted entities and in organizing workshops that demonstrate programs to other targeted entities;

(C) be experienced in identifying programs that effectively address community problems described in paragraph (1) that can be implemented by other targeted entities;

(D) be experienced in, and capable of, receiving information from and communicating with other targeted entities throughout the United States;

(E) be experienced in operating a national information clearinghouse that addresses 1 or more of the community problems described in paragraph (1); and

(F) as a condition of entering into the contract or receiving the grant referred to in paragraph (1), agree—

(i) to contribute in-kind resources toward implementation of the contract or grant;

(ii) to provide to other targeted entities information and guidance on the innovative programs referred to in paragraph (1); and

(iii) to operate a national information clearinghouse on innovative means for addressing community problems described in paragraph (1) that—

(I) is easily usable by—

(aa) Federal, State, and local government agencies;

(bb) local community leaders;

(cc) nongovernmental organizations; and

(dd) the public; and

(II) includes information on approved community food projects.

(3) Audits; effective use of funds

The Secretary shall establish auditing procedures and otherwise ensure the effective use of funds made available to carry out this subsection.

(4) Funding

Not later than 90 days after May 13, 2002, and on October 1 of each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007, the Secretary shall allocate to carry out this subsection $200,000 of the funds made available under subsection (b) of this section, to remain available until expended.

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