PRINTER'S NO. 1619
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1076
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY HAYWOOD, HUGHES, SCHWANK, FONTANA, FARNESE,
MENSCH, COSTA AND AUMENT, APRIL 6, 2018
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, APRIL 6, 2018
AN ACT
Amending the act of October 27, 2006 (P.L.1186, No.124),
entitled "An act establishing a farmers' market development
grant program to develop or expand farmers' markets;
conferring powers and duties on the Department of
Agriculture; and providing for funding," further providing
for the Farmers' Market Development Grant Program, for
limitations on grants and for funding.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 3, 4 and 21 of the act of October 27,
2006 (P.L.1186, No.124), known as the Farmers' Market
Development Act, are amended to read:
Section 3. Farmers' Market Development Grant Program.
(a) Authorization.--The department is authorized to
establish a program to award grants for the purpose of
developing or expanding farmers' markets.
(b) Eligibility.--Eligible applicants shall be located
within this Commonwealth and may include any of the following:
(1) Farmers.
(2) Nonprofit organizations.
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(3) Businesses or associations that manage or operate
farmers' markets.
(4) Local government units.
(c) Usage of grants.--Grants may be used for any of the
following:
(1) The cost of developing a business plan for a new
farmers' market.
(2) Predevelopment costs associated with opening a new
farmers' market, including site selection, demographic
research, farmer recruitment and sales potential analysis.
(3) Promotion of an existing farmers' market through
marketing materials, media outreach and advertising.
(4) Staffing costs to manage and operate a farmers'
market.
(5) The purchase of tables, stands and other display
materials for use in a farmers' market.
(6) The provision of nutrition education materials or
educational materials about Pennsylvania farm products to
program participants.
(7) The conduct of outreach to program participants to
increase participation in existing food assistance programs.
(8) Agritourism initiatives.
(9) The construction of new farmers' markets.
(10) The improvement or rehabilitation of existing
farmers' markets.
(11) Purchase, acquisition and rehabilitation of land or
property for use as a farmers' market.
(12) Establishing satellite locations of existing
farmers' markets designed to increase sales in underserved
areas.
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(13) Business development and management, including
professional development.
(14) The acquisition of equipment for farmers' markets
and other infrastructure needs.
Section 4. Limitations on grants.
(a) Limit.--The maximum amount of a grant per a farmers'
market location shall be [$10,000] $100,000. Grants in lesser
amounts may be approved until the cumulative total maximum grant
amount is awarded.
(b) Grant matching.--
(1) Except as set forth in paragraph (2), each applicant
shall provide at least [10%] 5% of the grant amount in
matching funds or in-kind goods or services.
(2) The requirement of paragraph (1) may be waived by
the secretary for a project [to serve an underserved area] if
the secretary determines that the waiver will further the
purposes of this act.
(c) Conditions.--The secretary may approve a grant in an
amount less than that requested and may impose restrictions or
special conditions upon issuance of a grant.
Section 21. Funding.
[Grants shall be awarded to the extent that funds are
appropriated by the General Assembly.] Beginning with fiscal
year 2018-2019, and each fiscal year thereafter, the sum of
$2,500,000 shall be annually appropriated by the General
Assembly for purposes of funding grants authorized under this
act.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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