Bill > S00584

This bill, known as the "Food Retail Establishment Subsidization for Healthy Communities Act" (FRESH Communities), provides loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies, and grants to businesses, municipalities, non-profit corporations, or local development corporations to attract, maintain, or expand food retail establishments in underserved areas. The bill aims to address the lack of access to fresh foods in many communities across the state, particularly in lower-income urban and rural areas, by providing financial assistance to supermarkets and other grocery retailers that meet certain criteria, such as participating in the New York Grown and Certified program, accepting electronic benefit transfers, and hiring local residents.