STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4996 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 27, 2023 ___________ 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: 1 Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new 2 section 31-k to read as follows: 3 § 31-k. Food chain resiliency through community gardening grant 4 program. 1. Definition. For purposes of this section, "eligible entity" 5 means a nonprofit organization and any city, county, town, township, 6 village, or other general purpose political subdivision of the state, 7 excluding cities with a population of one million or more. 8 2. Food chain resiliency through community gardening grant program. 9 There is hereby created within the department the food chain resiliency 10 through community gardening grant program. Subject to the availability 11 of funds, the department shall award grants to eligible entities to 12 expand, establish, or maintain community gardens for the purpose of 13 strengthening the resiliency of local food supply chains. 14 3. Eligible projects. Projects eligible under this section shall 15 include, but not be limited to: 16 (a) the establishment of a community garden, the purpose of which 17 shall be to support the needs of local food banks and food pantries; 18 (b) a community garden established on land owned by an eligible enti- 19 ty; 20 (c) re-granting to other organizations to support startups and capaci- 21 ty building; 22 (d) planning and consulting; and EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD08552-02-3A. 4996 2 1 (e) improvements to infrastructure related to food production, food 2 storage, and food distribution areas. 3 4. Eligible costs. (a) Funding will be available through a competitive 4 process to support projects that focus on increased local food 5 production and improved local food resiliency. Eligible grant expenses 6 shall include, but are not limited to: 7 (i) equipment for food storage, including refrigerators, food storage 8 bins, and shelves; 9 (ii) equipment for food production and gardening, including costs for 10 the rental or purchase of garden equipment and tools; 11 (iii) operating expenses including seeds, plants, pollinator plants, 12 fencing, irrigation supplies, garden maintenance and beautification 13 projects; 14 (iv) other capital improvements; and 15 (v) costs associated with preparing an application. 16 (b) Eligible entities shall provide ten percent funding, leveraging 17 ninety percent in state funds. Grants to eligible entities may not 18 exceed thirty thousand dollars, to be disbursed over a period of time 19 not to exceed three years, after which eligible entities would be 20 required to re-apply for grant funding. 21 5. Application. In order to receive a grant under this section, an 22 eligible entity shall submit to the department an application at such 23 time, in such manner, and containing such information as the department 24 may require, including: 25 (a) an assurance that priority for volunteers needed for the expan- 26 sion, establishment, or maintenance of a community garden funded with a 27 grant received under this section will be given to individuals who 28 reside in the community where the garden is located; and 29 (b) a demonstration that the eligible entity is committed to providing 30 financial or in-kind support for the community garden for which the 31 entity receives funds under this section. 32 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 33 have become a law.