Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

7 U.S.C. § 2034

Section 2034 · Assistance for community food projects

Current version, with additions and removals from the May 13, 2002 version.

View current clean text →Unified view
Current — December 20, 2018
As of May 13, 2002
(a) “Community food projects” defined
(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Community food project

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—
In this section, the term "community food project" means a community-based project that—

(1)(A) meet the food needs of low-income people;

(A) requires a 1-time contribution of Federal assistance to become self-sustaining; and

(B) is designed—

(i)(I) to meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service;

(B) increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and
(II) to increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and
(C) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; or
(III) to promote comprehensive responses to local food, food access, farm, and nutrition issues; or
(2) meet specific State, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs for—
(ii) to meet specific State, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to—

(A) infrastructure improvement and development;

(I) equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project;

(B) planning for long-term solutions; or
(II) planning for long-term solutions; or
(C) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.
(III) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

(2) Gleaner

The term "gleaner" means an entity that—

(A) collects edible, surplus food that would be thrown away and distributes the food to agencies or nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry; or

(B) harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to agencies or nonprofit organizations for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner of the crop.

(3) Hunger-free communities goal

The term "hunger-free communities goal" means any of the 14 goals described in House Concurrent Resolution 302, 102nd Congress, agreed to October 5, 1992.

(b) Authority to provide assistance
(b) Authority to provide assistance

(1) In general

(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.

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

(2) Limitation on grants

The total amount of funds provided as grants under this section may not exceed—

The total amount of funds provided as grants under this section may not exceed—

(A) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1996; and
(A) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;
(B) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1997 through 2007.
(B) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2014;

(C) $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2018; and

(D) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter.

(c) Eligible entities
(c) Eligible entities
To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b) of this section, a private nonprofit entity must—
To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b), a public food program service provider, a tribal organization, or a private nonprofit entity, including gleaners, must—

(1) have experience in the area of—

(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
(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;
(B) job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities;
(B) job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities; or

(C) efforts to reduce food insecurity in the community, including food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating services and programs;

(2) demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; and
(2) demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation;
(3) demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.
(3) demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties; and

(4) collaborate with 1 or more local partner organizations to achieve at least 1 hunger-free communities goal.

(d) Preference for certain projects
(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—
In selecting community food projects to receive assistance under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give a preference to projects designed to—

(1) develop linkages between 2 or more sectors of the food system;

(1) develop linkages between 2 or more sectors of the food system;

(2) support the development of entrepreneurial projects;

(2) support the development of entrepreneurial projects;

(3) develop innovative linkages between the for-profit and nonprofit food sectors; or
(3) develop innovative linkages between the for-profit and nonprofit food sectors;
(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.
(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; or

(5) develop new resources and strategies to help reduce food insecurity in the community and prevent food insecurity in the future by—

(A) developing creative food resources;

(B) coordinating food services with park and recreation programs and other community-based outlets to reduce barriers to access; or

(C) creating nutrition education programs for at-risk populations to enhance food-purchasing and food-preparation skills and to heighten awareness of the connection between diet and health.

(e) Matching funds requirements
(e) Matching funds requirements

(1) 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.
The Federal share of the cost of establishing or carrying out a community food project that receives assistance under subsection (b) may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project during the term of the grant.

(2) Calculation

(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.

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

(3) Sources

An entity may provide for the non-Federal share through State government, local government, or private sources.

An entity may provide for the non-Federal share through State government, local government, or private sources.

(f) Term of grant
(f) Term of grant

(1) Single grant

(1) Single grant

A community food project may be supported by only a single grant under subsection (b) of this section.
A community food project may be supported by only a single grant under subsection (b).

(2) Term

(2) Term

The term of a grant under subsection (b) of this section may not exceed 3 years.
The term of a grant under subsection (b) may not exceed 5 years.
(g) Technical assistance and related information
(g) Technical assistance and related information

(1) Technical assistance

(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.

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

(2) Sharing information

(A) In general

(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.

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

(B) Other interested parties

The Secretary may share information concerning community food projects with researchers, practitioners, and 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 nongovernmental 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.

(h) Reports to Congress

Not later than September 30, 2014, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes each grant made under this section, including—

(1) a description of any activity funded;

(2) the degree of success of each activity funded in achieving hunger-free community goals; and

(3) the degree of success in improving the long-term capacity of a community to address food and agriculture problems related to hunger or access to healthy food.

/7/usc/2034 · .json · Public domain