S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4996
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 27, 2023
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Introduced by M. of A. SLATER, BEEPHAN, BENDETT, E. BROWN, DeSTEFANO,
GALLAHAN, HAWLEY, MAHER, MILLER, TAGUE -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing a community gardening grant program to strengthen local food
chain resiliency
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
section 31-k to read as follows:
§ 31-K. FOOD CHAIN RESILIENCY THROUGH COMMUNITY GARDENING GRANT
PROGRAM. 1. DEFINITION. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "ELIGIBLE ENTITY"
MEANS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND ANY CITY, COUNTY, TOWN, TOWNSHIP,
VILLAGE, OR OTHER GENERAL PURPOSE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE,
EXCLUDING CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE.
2. FOOD CHAIN RESILIENCY THROUGH COMMUNITY GARDENING GRANT PROGRAM.
THERE IS HEREBY CREATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THE FOOD CHAIN RESILIENCY
THROUGH COMMUNITY GARDENING GRANT PROGRAM. SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL AWARD GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES TO
EXPAND, ESTABLISH, OR MAINTAIN COMMUNITY GARDENS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCY OF LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS.
3. ELIGIBLE PROJECTS. PROJECTS ELIGIBLE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
(A) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH
SHALL BE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES;
(B) A COMMUNITY GARDEN ESTABLISHED ON LAND OWNED BY AN ELIGIBLE ENTI-
TY;
(C) RE-GRANTING TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT STARTUPS AND CAPACI-
TY BUILDING;
(D) PLANNING AND CONSULTING; AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08552-02-3
A. 4996 2
(E) IMPROVEMENTS TO INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO FOOD PRODUCTION, FOOD
STORAGE, AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION AREAS.
4. ELIGIBLE COSTS. (A) FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH A COMPETITIVE
PROCESS TO SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT FOCUS ON INCREASED LOCAL FOOD
PRODUCTION AND IMPROVED LOCAL FOOD RESILIENCY. ELIGIBLE GRANT EXPENSES
SHALL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
(I) EQUIPMENT FOR FOOD STORAGE, INCLUDING REFRIGERATORS, FOOD STORAGE
BINS, AND SHELVES;
(II) EQUIPMENT FOR FOOD PRODUCTION AND GARDENING, INCLUDING COSTS FOR
THE RENTAL OR PURCHASE OF GARDEN EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS;
(III) OPERATING EXPENSES INCLUDING SEEDS, PLANTS, POLLINATOR PLANTS,
FENCING, IRRIGATION SUPPLIES, GARDEN MAINTENANCE AND BEAUTIFICATION
PROJECTS;
(IV) OTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS; AND
(V) COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PREPARING AN APPLICATION.
(B) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES SHALL PROVIDE TEN PERCENT FUNDING, LEVERAGING
NINETY PERCENT IN STATE FUNDS. GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES MAY NOT
EXCEED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, TO BE DISBURSED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME
NOT TO EXCEED THREE YEARS, AFTER WHICH ELIGIBLE ENTITIES WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO RE-APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDING.
5. APPLICATION. IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A GRANT UNDER THIS SECTION, AN
ELIGIBLE ENTITY SHALL SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT AN APPLICATION AT SUCH
TIME, IN SUCH MANNER, AND CONTAINING SUCH INFORMATION AS THE DEPARTMENT
MAY REQUIRE, INCLUDING:
(A) AN ASSURANCE THAT PRIORITY FOR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE EXPAN-
SION, ESTABLISHMENT, OR MAINTENANCE OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN FUNDED WITH A
GRANT RECEIVED UNDER THIS SECTION WILL BE GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO
RESIDE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE GARDEN IS LOCATED; AND
(B) A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE ELIGIBLE ENTITY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING
FINANCIAL OR IN-KIND SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR WHICH THE
ENTITY RECEIVES FUNDS UNDER THIS SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.