Bill > S06233

This bill enacts the "Food Retail Establishment Subsidization for Healthy Communities Act" (FRESH Communities), which provides loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies, and grants to businesses, municipalities, non-profit corporations, or local development corporations. The purpose is to attract, maintain, or expand food retail establishments, such as supermarkets and grocery stores, in underserved areas. These underserved areas can include low or moderate-income census tracts, areas with below-average supermarket density, or other areas with significant access limitations. The bill aims to address the lack of access to fresh foods in many communities, which can lead to public health issues, higher costs for residents, and reduced markets for farmers. The bill also requires the Urban Development Corporation to establish performance indicators to track and publish the progress of the projects receiving funding.