Bill > A3742

This bill establishes the Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to support school districts in sourcing and procuring local foods for students. The program will provide grants to eligible school districts to help them increase their procurement of local food products, with funding amounts ranging from $10,000 to $250,000 depending on the district's size. School districts must submit an attestation form detailing their current local food sourcing baseline and proposed plans to expand local food procurement. Grants can be used to reimburse eligible costs associated with purchasing local foods produced within New Jersey, with up to 20% of funds potentially available for technical assistance. The bill appropriates $4,500,000 for the program and creates a dedicated Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Fund to support the initiative. Grants will be distributed on a periodic installment basis, with districts required to submit monthly or quarterly invoices documenting their local food purchases. The program aims to increase students' access to locally produced foods, support small and socially disadvantaged farmers, and prioritize districts with high numbers of subsidized meal students or those located in food desert areas.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A3742