This bill authorizes cities and code cities in Washington State to establish publicly owned grocery stores in underserved areas that experience food access gaps. The legislation allows these municipalities to acquire land, construct or rehabilitate buildings, lease properties to private or nonprofit operators, and utilize eminent domain for public use. Additionally, cities can apply for capital grants from the Department of Commerce to fund various aspects of the grocery stores, including property acquisition, rehabilitation, and operational costs. The bill also permits the designation of tax increment financing areas to support the financial viability of these grocery stores.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the operational structure of the grocery stores, which can be managed by city employees, third-party entities, or cooperatively with nonprofit governance. It mandates annual reporting to the Department of Commerce on the grocery store's financial status, community access to food, job creation, and compliance with contractual obligations. Notably, the bill amends existing law to include publicly owned grocery stores as a recognized public improvement, thereby facilitating their funding and development through tax increment financing.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 39.114.010