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, utility upgrades, and technology enhancements. Eligibility criteria for the program include being located in a community with a population of 20,000 or fewer, having ten or fewer grocery stores, and demonstrating a plan for sustainability. Additionally, priority will be given to stores that accept USDA nutrition assistance benefits and create or retain local jobs.

The local produce processing grant program is designed to support Iowa-based entities in increasing the availability and efficiency of local produce processing, with grants prioritized for those that process produce from multiple Iowa farms. The bill also creates a fund to support both the grocer reinvestment and local produce processing programs, with a specified allocation of $100,000 or 10% of the fund's total for the processing program starting in fiscal year 2025. Furthermore, the bill modifies the local food and farm program to include grocery stores in its goals and appropriates $2 million from the state general fund for the next two fiscal years to support these initiatives.

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