Beephan, Bendett, Brown E, DeStefano, Gallahan, Hawley, Maher, Miller, Tague, Angelino, Gray,
Durso, Morinello, Brabenec, Lemondes, Flood, Brown K
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add 31-k, Ag & Mkts L
 
Establishes the food chain resiliency through community gardening grant program to expand, establish, or maintain community gardens for the purpose of strengthening the resiliency of local food supply chains.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4996
SPONSOR: Slater
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing a community gardening grant program to strengthen local food
chain resiliency
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Promote the creation of community garden projects in order to strengthen
local food chain resiliency
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 - defines "eligible entity"
2 - creates community gardening grant program to increase food chain
resiliency
3 - defines what constitutes an eligible project
4 - defines what is considered an eligible cost
5 - defines the application requirements
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the realities of food insecurity.
Regional food banks and local food pantries experienced a significant
demand which has yet to subside. Coupled with record high inflation that
has impacted every aspect of our society we need to find innovative
programs that can support these important community partners.
Communities have invested in creating community gardens for the purpose
of cultivating needed vegetables that are donated to local food
pantries. In some places, such as the Town of Yorktown in Westchester
County, the local community garden has produced nearly two tons of fresh
vegetables which have gone to supporting more than 50 food insecure
families. This model can be achieved in other parts of New York State
as part of a collective effort to tackle food insecurity as we continue
to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the ongoing
inflation crisis.
Furthermore, community gardens are beneficial to the environment and the
health and wellbeing of our local communities. Community gardens can
also reduce the severity of food deserts in low-income neighborhoods, as
well as providing those residents improved access to nutritious food
necessary for a well-balanced diet. Additionally, these gardens may help
foster a sense of community, which studies have shown, lead to decreased
crime rates and increased property values.
Community gardens will help reduce negative impacts on the environment,
by reducing food transportation costs, and water runoff. Furthermore,
they can help promote sustainable agricultural practices, and improve
the ecology of the area by creating habitats for plants and animals
necessary for a healthy ecosystem, which will lead to improved air and
soil auality.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Set in the annual budget
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4996
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SLATER, BEEPHAN, BENDETT, E. BROWN, DeSTEFANO,
GALLAHAN, HAWLEY, MAHER, MILLER, TAGUE -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing a community gardening grant program to strengthen local food
chain resiliency
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
2 section 31-k to read as follows:
3 § 31-k. Food chain resiliency through community gardening grant
4 program. 1. Definition. For purposes of this section, "eligible entity"
5 means a nonprofit organization and any city, county, town, township,
6 village, or other general purpose political subdivision of the state,
7 excluding cities with a population of one million or more.
8 2. Food chain resiliency through community gardening grant program.
9 There is hereby created within the department the food chain resiliency
10 through community gardening grant program. Subject to the availability
11 of funds, the department shall award grants to eligible entities to
12 expand, establish, or maintain community gardens for the purpose of
13 strengthening the resiliency of local food supply chains.
14 3. Eligible projects. Projects eligible under this section shall
15 include, but not be limited to:
16 (a) the establishment of a community garden, the purpose of which
17 shall be to support the needs of local food banks and food pantries;
18 (b) a community garden established on land owned by an eligible enti-
19 ty;
20 (c) re-granting to other organizations to support startups and capaci-
21 ty building;
22 (d) planning and consulting; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08552-02-3
A. 4996 2
1 (e) improvements to infrastructure related to food production, food
2 storage, and food distribution areas.
3 4. Eligible costs. (a) Funding will be available through a competitive
4 process to support projects that focus on increased local food
5 production and improved local food resiliency. Eligible grant expenses
6 shall include, but are not limited to:
7 (i) equipment for food storage, including refrigerators, food storage
8 bins, and shelves;
9 (ii) equipment for food production and gardening, including costs for
10 the rental or purchase of garden equipment and tools;
11 (iii) operating expenses including seeds, plants, pollinator plants,
12 fencing, irrigation supplies, garden maintenance and beautification
13 projects;
14 (iv) other capital improvements; and
15 (v) costs associated with preparing an application.
16 (b) Eligible entities shall provide ten percent funding, leveraging
17 ninety percent in state funds. Grants to eligible entities may not
18 exceed thirty thousand dollars, to be disbursed over a period of time
19 not to exceed three years, after which eligible entities would be
20 required to re-apply for grant funding.
21 5. Application. In order to receive a grant under this section, an
22 eligible entity shall submit to the department an application at such
23 time, in such manner, and containing such information as the department
24 may require, including:
25 (a) an assurance that priority for volunteers needed for the expan-
26 sion, establishment, or maintenance of a community garden funded with a
27 grant received under this section will be given to individuals who
28 reside in the community where the garden is located; and
29 (b) a demonstration that the eligible entity is committed to providing
30 financial or in-kind support for the community garden for which the
31 entity receives funds under this section.
32 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
33 have become a law.