7 U.S.C. § 2034 : US Code - Section 2034: Assistance for community food projects

Search 7 U.S.C. § 2034 : US Code - Section 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
(C) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and
nutrition issues; or
(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.
(c) Eligible entities
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;
(C) welfare dependency;
(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.