Bill > H128

This bill establishes the Food Justice Frontline Program through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to address food insecurity by creating jobs in food-related sectors for residents in economically disadvantaged and environmentally burdened communities. The program will provide grants up to $500,000 to nonprofit food security organizations that create jobs in food production, distribution, preparation, and delivery for low-income residents. Organizations must use the entire grant to create jobs in "Overburdened Communities" - defined as Census Block Groups that are in the 75th percentile for environmental indicators and have median household incomes at or below 80% of the state's median. Jobs created must pay an hourly wage calculated based on the statewide per capita income. Additionally, the bill establishes a complementary public awareness program run by the Department of Transitional Assistance and Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development to promote food assistance programs, which will employ residents under 18 (particularly from low-income areas) at a minimum of $15 per hour to raise awareness about programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The program will be conducted in multiple languages to ensure broad accessibility.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H128