NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Program Requirements for the 2024-2025 Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative Grant Program
[54 Pa.B. 7199]
[Saturday, November 2, 2024]The Department of Agriculture (Department) hereby provides notice of the standards and requirements for the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative Grant Program (Program).
The Program is established under authority of section 1718-E(a)(5) of the Fiscal Code (72 P.S. § 1718-E(a)(5)) which provides that money appropriated in the current fiscal year and unspent money from previous fiscal years shall be used to strengthen local food systems and increase market opportunities for farmers in this Commonwealth by providing grants that increase the availability of fresh foods in underserved and low-income or moderate-income communities in this Commonwealth. Grants under this paragraph may be used to construct, rehabilitate or expand grocery stores, farmers' markets or retail food establishments, including any other project that may serve this purpose.
The Program aims to strengthen local food systems and increase market opportunities for farmers in this Commonwealth by providing grants that increase the availability of fresh and local foods in underserved and low-income or moderate-income communities in this Commonwealth.
This initiative supports local agricultural producers and retailers through reimbursement grant funding to facilitate the establishment, construction, rehabilitation and expansion of grocery stores, farmers' markets and other food enterprises, with priority given to establishments that serve food deserts. This Program also supports the implementation of innovative food access technologies that support customer purchasing options.
This notice establishes the policy guidelines for the Program. It establishes the process by which grant applications will be solicited, reviewed and awarded for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025. The amount appropriated for grants in FY 2024-2025 is up to $4 million.
1. Program Objectives. The Program's objectives are to:
a. Improve access to fresh food: Increase the availability of high-quality, affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, meat and dairy products in underserved communities.
b. Support Pennsylvania agriculture: Prioritize projects that expand or diversify the production, aggregation, sourcing or sale of agricultural commodities in this Commonwealth.
c. Promote economic development: Increase business opportunities, especially for small, diverse businesses and veteran-owned businesses within this Commonwealth.
d. Encourage innovation: Support innovative technology or delivery methods that increase healthy food access by expanding infrastructure that supports customer purchasing options, enables mobile or pop-up farmers markets, implements mobile Electronic Benefit Transfer reader technology or increases direct to consumer sales.
2. Definitions. The following words and phrases apply to the Program:
Cooperative: A business entity that is owned and democratically controlled by its member-owners who utilize its services and share in its profits and losses.
Farmers' Markets: A single or multi-stall market that sells agricultural products, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, to the public at a single or multiple locations. This designation applies to any organization that operates a farmers' market location.
Food Desert: As defined by The United States Department of Agriculture by Census tract by the Food Access Research Atlas of its Economic Research Service. These areas have limited access to affordable, and nutritious food, based on certain low-income and low-access criteria.
Food Enterprise: A business involved in the production, processing and marketing of food products. It can include various types of businesses such as food production companies, specialty food processors, cooperatives, farmers' markets and farm-based enterprises which may be for-profit or non-profit that create value-added products.
Grocery Stores: A retail food establishment with one or more retail locations totaling more than 30,000 retail square feet but less than 100,000 square feet.
Large or Regional Anchor Supermarkets: A retail food establishment collectively totaling more than 100,000 retail square feet and operating more than one retail location.
Secretary: The Secretary of the Department.
3. Eligible Applicants.
a. Entities primarily engaged (70% or more of revenue) in the sale of fresh, staple and perishable food to consumers, which:
i. Operate within this Commonwealth.
ii. Serve customers in food deserts.
iii. Provide access to affordable, high-quality fresh food in these communities.
iv. Expand access to Pennsylvania-grown or processed produce, dairy and meat products.
b. Priority will be given to projects that increase business opportunities for:
i. Veteran-Owned Businesses
ii. Small and Diverse Businesses that are registered with the PA Department of General Services Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities
iii. PA Preferred Businesses with an active trademark license agreement.
iv. Businesses that have a fully implemented business plan.
4. Grant Types. Matching reimbursement grants will be offered in the following categories to defray the costs of an eligible project or equipment purchase, where the grant comprises no more than 85% of the total project cost:
a. Large/regional anchor supermarket up to $1 million.
b. Grocery store up to $500,000.
c. Food enterprise up to $100,000.
5. Limitations on Grants. The following shall apply:
a. The amount of reimbursement is based on actual eligible costs submitted by an approved applicant for an approved project during any fiscal year in which grants are offered.
b. Grant reimbursement money is limited as described in section 4.
c. Grant reimbursement money shall not be used to reimburse any portion of an in-kind contribution to an eligible project.
d. Grant money may not be used to pay or reimburse wages or salaries of grant recipient staff.
e. Grant money may not be used to reimburse any portion of the project costs which are being paid or reimbursed under another Federal or State grant program.
6. Application Procedure.
a. Online applications only. An applicant for a grant under the Program shall be submitted through the Commonwealth's Single Application for Assistance online application system, at https://grants.pa.gov.
b. Application window. Applications must be submitted through the Single Application for Assistance online application system between 8 a.m. on November 4, 2024, and 5 p.m. on January 18, 2025. Applications received outside of that application window will not be considered or reviewed.
c. Application requirements. An application for a grant under the Program shall contain the following information:
i. The applicant's name, business address and contact information.
ii. A brief narrative explaining how the applicant is an eligible applicant.
iii. The details of the project or equipment purchase for which reimbursement grant money is sought, including the following:
A. A project budget.
B. A statement of the maximum amount of grant money sought for the project.
C. A project implementation schedule, a construction schedule or an equipment purchase plan, as appropriate for the project or purchase with respect to which the grant is sought.
D. A narrative identifying each entity that will assist in, participate in and benefit from the project.
E. A project completion date, which shall be no later than June 30, 2026.
F. An attestation signed by the applicant, verifying the accuracy of the information presented on the application.
7. Disposition and Review of Grant Applications.
a. The Department will review each application, and supporting documentation submitted therewith, for completeness and accuracy, and shall determine whether the application is eligible for consideration.
b. If an application is found to be incomplete or inaccurate, the Department may request additional documentation and may discontinue further processing of the application until the requested information is received.
8. Notice of Disposition of Application. The Department will provide the applicant e-mail notice of the disposition (approval or disapproval) of the application.
9. Grant Agreement. After the Secretary approves a grant application, and as a precondition to the Department's release of grant moneys to a successful applicant, the Department and the applicant will execute a written or electronic grant agreement which describes the terms and conditions subject to which the grant is made. The grant agreement will contain and conform to the requirements of this notice and will also contain any special terms and conditions as required by the Secretary. Among the terms of the grant agreement will be a requirement that the grant recipient provide the Department full and complete access to all records relating to the performance of the project and submit the information as the department may require. Applicants who wish to view the full terms and conditions of the grant agreement in advance of submitting an application may contact the Department at the address set forth in Section 11. Applicants who are unable to agree to the terms and conditions should not apply.
10. Distribution of Grant Money. As Program grants are reimbursement grants, the Department will not issue grant money until the successful applicant delivers the following to the Department immediately following project completion, but no later than June 30, 2026:
a. A verified statement that the eligible project has been completed or implemented, or that the subject equipment has been purchased.
b. A verified statement of the project completion date, or the equipment purchase date.
c. Photos of the completed or implemented project or the equipment purchased, with a narrative explanation of each photo.
d. Bills and invoices demonstrating that expenses were incurred for which reimbursement grant funds are sought.
Documents submitted to the Department under this section shall be directed to the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Market Development, Attn: Pennsylvania Fresh Financing Initiative Program Coordinator, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408.
11. Additional Information: Additional information may be obtained from the Department by contacting Corinne Elliott, (717) 787-6041, corielliot@pa.gov.
RUSSELL REDDING,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-1576. Filed for public inspection November 1, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]
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