HF 2176 — A bill for an act creating a grocer reinvestment fund and program under the purview of the economic development authority, modifying the local food and farm program, and making appropriations.

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill creates a new grocer reinvestment fund and program aimed at providing financial assistance to grocery stores and modifies the existing local food and farm program to include grocery stores within its framework.

• 15.106B

  The authority may enter into a contract with a nonprofit organization organized under chapter 504 or similar laws of another jurisdiction, or with a community development financial institution, to administer the grocer reinvestment program under section 15.413.

  Allows the authority to contract with nonprofit organizations or financial institutions to manage the new grocer reinvestment program.

• 267A.1

  and food entrepreneurs, → , and grocery stores

  Expands the purpose of the local food and farm program to explicitly include grocery stores.

• 267A.1

  Increase the number of jobs in this state’s farm and business economies associated with producing, processing, distributing, retailing, and marketing local food.

  Modifies the goals of the local food and farm program to further emphasize job creation.

• 267A.1

  Increase the availability and viability of grocery stores in this state.

  Adds a new goal to the local food and farm program focusing on enhancing grocery store presence and sustainability.

• 267A.2

  "Grocery store" means the same as defined in section 15.413.

  Defines 'grocery store' in the local food and farm program to align with the new definitions established in the grocer reinvestment program.

• 267A.6

  Improve communication and cooperation between and among farmers, food entrepreneurs, and consumers. → Improve communication and cooperation between and among farmers, food entrepreneurs, grocers, and consumers.

  Broadens the focus of communication and cooperation in the local food and farm program to include grocers.

• 267A.6

  Demonstrate the value of processing, distributing, and marketing local foods. → Demonstrate the value of processing, distributing, retailing, and marketing local foods.

  Explicitly includes retailing in the demonstration projects within the local food and farm program.

• 15.413

  A grocer reinvestment fund is created in the state treasury under the control of the authority.

  Establishes a new fund dedicated to supporting grocery stores through financial assistance.

• 15.413

  Financial assistance means assistance, in the form of grants, provided only from the funds and assets legally available to the authority pursuant to this section.

  Defines financial assistance within the context of the grocer reinvestment program as grant-based.

• 15.413

  The authority shall establish and administer the program for the purpose of awarding financial assistance to eligible grocery stores for capital improvements, upgrades to utilities, purchases of equipment and furnishings, expenditures for professional services, and technology.

  Formalizes the authority's role in managing the grocer reinvestment program and specifies eligible uses for financial assistance.

• 15.413

  The grocery store has filed all required documents with the secretary of state under the relevant filing statute as described in section 9.11.

  Imposes a regulatory requirement for grocery stores seeking financial assistance to be compliant with state filing statutes.

• 15.413

  Financial assistance awarded under the program shall not be less than fifty thousand dollars and shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars.

  Establishes minimum and maximum limits for grants provided through the grocer reinvestment program.

• 15.413

  In order to be awarded financial assistance under the program, a grocery store must provide matching funds for the project equal to the amount of the financial assistance award.

  Requires grocery stores to match funding to qualify for financial assistance under the new program.

• 15.413

  Priority shall be given to the grocery stores that commit to locating the project in an underserved community that primarily serves the residents of low or moderate income communities.

  Creates criteria prioritizing assistance to grocery stores serving underserved, low to moderate income areas.

• 15.413

  By November 1, 2025, and each November 1 thereafter, if financial assistance has been provided in the immediately preceding fiscal year, the director shall submit a report to the general assembly describing the activities of the program.

  Mandates annual reporting on the progress and impact of the grocer reinvestment program to the legislature.

• 15.413

  The fund shall be used to award financial assistance as provided under the program.

  Assigns specific use of the newly created fund for providing financial assistance to grocery stores.

Action History

1. February 19, 2024

   Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2599.

2. February 14, 2024

   Committee report, recommending amendment and passage.

3. January 31, 2024

   Subcommittee recommends passage. Vote Total: 3-0.

4. January 30, 2024

   Subcommittee Meeting: 01/31/2024 12:15PM RM 304.1.

5. January 29, 2024

   Subcommittee: Ingels, Carlson and Isenhart.

6. January 29, 2024

   Introduced, referred to Economic Growth and Technology.

Sponsors

• Brian K. Lohse · Primary

Subjects