Bill > HB764

This bill establishes the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, a program designed to improve food access and support local agricultural communities by providing grants to grocery stores, farmers' markets, and retail food establishments in underserved and low-income areas. The initiative focuses on increasing availability of fresh, nutritious food by offering financial support for construction, rehabilitation, or expansion of food retail spaces, with a particular emphasis on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and areas designated as food deserts. The program will be administered by the Department of Agriculture, which will develop guidelines for grant eligibility, prioritize projects that support local agricultural products and diverse businesses, and offer grants up to 15% of project funding, requiring matching private investments. Eligible applicants include for-profit, nonprofit, and cooperative entities that primarily sell food and serve low-to-moderate income communities, with grant money available for equipment purchases, innovative food access technology, and other improvements that enhance food accessibility. A dedicated restricted account will be established in the General Fund to support the program, which can receive state appropriations, gifts, donations, and federal funds. The bill aims to stimulate economic vitality, create jobs, and improve food security across Pennsylvania.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=764