This bill establishes a grocer reinvestment program, a local produce processing grant program, and a grocer reinvestment and local food processing fund, all under the oversight of the economic development authority. The grocer reinvestment program aims to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible grocery stores for various projects, including capital improvements and technology upgrades, with a maximum award of $200,000. Priority will be given to projects located in underserved communities that serve low or moderate-income residents, accept USDA nutrition assistance benefits, and create or retain local jobs. The authority is also required to report on the program's activities annually.

Additionally, the local produce processing grant program will award grants to Iowa-based entities to enhance the processing of local produce, with a focus on increasing availability, access, efficiency, and capacity. The bill creates a fund to support both the grocer reinvestment and local produce processing programs, allocating $100,000 or 10% of the fund's total moneys annually to the processing program starting in FY 2025. The bill also modifies the local food and farm program to include grocery stores and emphasizes the importance of retailing local food. To support these initiatives, the bill appropriates $2 million from the general fund for each of the next two fiscal years.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 15.413, 267A.1, 267A.2