7 USC 2034 - Assistance for community food projects

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 2034.

Assistance for community food projects

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Community food project

In this section, the term “community food project” means a community-based project that—

(A)

requires a 1-time contribution of Federal assistance to become self-sustaining; and

(B)

is designed—

(i)

(I)

to meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service;

(II)

to increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and

(III)

to promote comprehensive responses to local food, food access, farm, and nutrition issues; or

(ii)

to meet specific State, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to—

(I)

equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project;

(II)

planning for long-term solutions; or

(III)

the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

(2)

Gleaner

The term “gleaner” means an entity that—

(A)

collects edible, surplus food that would be thrown away and distributes the food to agencies or nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry; or

(B)

harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to agencies or nonprofit organizations for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner of the crop.

(3)

Hunger-free communities goal

(b)

Authority to provide assistance

(1)

In general

(2)

Limitation on grants

The total amount of funds provided as grants under this section may not exceed—

(A)

$1,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;

(B)

$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2014;

(C)

$9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2018; and

(D)

$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter.

(c)

Eligible entities

To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b), a public food program service provider, a tribal organization, or a private nonprofit entity, including gleaners, must—

(1)

have experience in the area of—

(A)

community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-sized farms, including the provision of food to people in low-income communities and the development of new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers;

(B)

job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities; or

(C)

efforts to reduce food insecurity in the community, including food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating services and programs;

(2)

demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation;

(3)

demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties; and

(4)

collaborate with 1 or more local partner organizations to achieve at least 1 hunger-free communities goal.

(d)

Preference for certain projects

In selecting community food projects to receive assistance under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give a preference to projects designed to—

(1)

develop linkages between 2 or more sectors of the food system;

(2)

support the development of entrepreneurial projects;

(3)

develop innovative linkages between the for-profit and nonprofit food sectors;

(4)

encourage long-term planning activities, and multisystem, interagency approaches with multistakeholder collaborations, that build the long-term capacity of communities to address the food and agricultural problems of the communities, such as food policy councils and food planning associations; or

(5)

develop new resources and strategies to help reduce food insecurity in the community and prevent food insecurity in the future by—

(A)

developing creative food resources;

(B)

coordinating food services with park and recreation programs and other community-based outlets to reduce barriers to access; or

(C)

creating nutrition education programs for at-risk populations to enhance food-purchasing and food-preparation skills and to heighten awareness of the connection between diet and health.

(e)

Matching funds requirements

(1)

Requirements

(2)

Calculation

(3)

Sources

(f)

Term of grant

(1)

Single grant

(2)

Term

(g)

Technical assistance and related information

(1)

Technical assistance

(2)

Sharing information

(A)

In general

(B)

Other interested parties

(h)

Reports to Congress

Not later than September 30, 2014, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes each grant made under this section, including—

(1)

a description of any activity funded;

(2)

the degree of success of each activity funded in achieving hunger-free community goals; and

(3)

the degree of success in improving the long-term capacity of a community to address food and agriculture problems related to hunger or access to healthy food.

(Pub. L. 88–525, § 25, as added Pub. L. 104–127, title IV, § 401(h), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1027; amended Pub. L. 107–171, title IV, § 4125(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 326; Pub. L. 110–234, title IV, §§ 4402, 4406(a)(7), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1135, 1141; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title IV, §§ 4402, 4406(a)(7), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1896, 1902; Pub. L. 110–380, § 1(a), Oct. 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 4080; Pub. L. 113–79, title IV, § 4026, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 810; Pub. L. 115–334, title IV, §§ 4017, 4022(8), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4648, 4654.)

cite as: 7 USC 2034