WSB/1/2
Sponsored by Emma Hornsby of Center for Creative Arts
This legislation was filed in the Economic and Community Development category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
| 1 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE TENNESSEE YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Section 1: Terms in this act will be defined as follows |
| 4 | Underserved Population: Groups that have limited or no access to resources or that are otherwise |
| 5 | disenfranchised. These groups may include people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged; |
| 6 | people with limited English proficiency; geographically isolated or educationally disenfranchised |
| 7 | people; people of color as well as those of ethnic and national origin minorities; women and |
| 8 | children; individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs; and seniors. |
| 9 | Financing: Loans, grants, or tax incentives |
| 10 | Grocery store: a for profit or not for profit retail establishment that primarily sells meat, seafood, |
| 11 | fruits, vegetables, dairy products, household supplies, dry groceries, or other healthy or fresh food |
| 12 | retailers |
| 13 | Low-income area: a census tract from the most recent United States Census from the United |
| 14 | States Census Bureau where the median family income does not exceed eighty percent (80%) of |
| 15 | the greater of the statewide or metropolitan median family income |
| 16 | Department: referring to the department of Economic and Community Development |
| 17 | |
| 18 | Section 2: Whereas, many people in underserved populations do not have access to fresh, healthy |
| 19 | foods contributing to health problems, which include but are not limited to: obesity, cardiovascular |
| 20 | disease, and cancer. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | Section 3: Whereas, grocery stores are often deterred from opening in underserved areas because |
| 23 | of high land costs and crowded spaces. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Section 4: Whereas, underserved populations often have to choose between living where they can |
| 26 | find transportation for good employment options or having healthy food options. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | Section 5: Whereas, 6.1% of the population of the United States is considered low income and |
| 29 | lives 1 to 10 miles away from a grocery store. |
| 30 | |
| 31 | Section 6: There is established the Grocery Store Access Fund. It shall consist of federal and state |
| 32 | grants and loans, as well as private grants and loans, federal tax credits, state taxes, or other |
| 33 | financial assistance for grocery stores in underserved locations. No less than 25% of the money |
| 34 | should be used for grants and forgivable loans. |
| 35 | |
| 36 | Section 7: Funds will be derived from the Tennessee Sports Betting Tax, and it will cost |
| 37 | |
| 38 | Section 8: The department will create qualification guidelines and provide financial assistance |
| 39 | through an application process. Projects are required to be located in underserved areas. Eligible |
| 40 | applicants shall include: |
| 41 | New grocery store construction |
| 42 | Any renovations, expansions, or structural upgrades promote accessibility and quality of healthy |
| 43 | foods in grocery stores |
| 44 | |
| 45 | Section 9: Applicants may be for profit or not for profit entities. Financial applicants must do the |
| 46 | following: |
| 47 | Demonstrate capability and economic sustainability of the project. |
| 48 | Demonstrate an ability to repay debts |
| 49 | Agree within a 2 year period to comply with the following criteria: |
| 50 | Allocate at least 40% of food retail space for the sale of perishable food items including fresh |
| 51 | produce, fresh or frozen meat, fresh or frozen dairy, whole grains, poultry, and fish. |
| 52 | Comply with all inspections, reporting, and data collection requirements from the department |
| 53 | Hire residents within a 20 mile radius |
| 54 | Accept payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) |
| 55 | |
| 56 | Section 10: Financing from the department may be used for any of the following: |
| 57 | Acquiring a site |
| 58 | Preparing a site |
| 59 | Construction costs |
| 60 | Furnishings and equipment acquisition |
| 61 | Employee training |
| 62 | Security |
| 63 | Pre-development costs |
| 64 | Working capital |
| 65 | |
| 66 | Section 11: All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this bill are hereby repealed. |
| 67 | |
| 68 | Section 12: This act shall take effect on January 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it. |
| 69 |