From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access [www.gpoaccess.gov] [Laws in effect as of January 3, 2007] [CITE: 7USC2034] [Page 1110-1111] TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE CHAPTER 51--FOOD STAMP PROGRAM Sec. 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 nongovern [[Page 1111]] mental 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. (Pub. L. 88-525, Sec. 25, as added Pub. L. 104-127, title IV, Sec. 401(h), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1027; amended Pub. L. 107-171, title IV, Sec. 4125(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 326.) Amendments 2002--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107-171, Sec. 4125(a)(1), designated pars. (1) to (3) as subpars. (A) to (C) of par. (1), respectively, and added par. (2). Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107-171, Sec. 4125(a)(2), substituted ``$5,000,000'' for ``$2,500,000'' and ``2007'' for ``2002''. Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 107-171, Sec. 4125(a)(3), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: ``encourage long-term planning activities and multi-system, interagency approaches.'' Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107-171, Sec. 4125(a)(4), added subsec. (h) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (h). Text read as follows: ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide for the evaluation of the success of community food projects supported using funds under this section. ``(2) Report.--Not later than January 30, 2002, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress regarding the results of the evaluation.'' Effective Date of 2002 Amendment Pub. L. 107-171, title IV, Sec. 4125(b), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 327, provided that: ``The amendments made by this section [amending this section] take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [May 13, 2002].'' |