7 USC 7518 - Micro-grants for food security

View all text of Chapter 102 [§ 7501 - § 7518]

§ 7518. Micro-grants for food security

(a) Purpose

(b) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Eligible entityThe term “eligible entity” means an entity that—

(A) is—

(i) an individual;

(ii) an Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in section 5304 of title 25;

(iii) a nonprofit organization engaged in increasing food security, as determined by the Secretary, including—(I) a religious organization;(II) a food bank; or(III) a food pantry;

(iv) a federally funded educational facility, including—(I) a Head Start program or an Early Head Start program carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.);(II) a public elementary school or public secondary school;(III) a public institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20);(IV) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 1059c(b) of title 20); or(V) a job training program; or

(v) a local or Tribal government that may not levy local taxes under State or Federal law; and

(B) is located in an eligible State.

(2) Eligible StateThe term “eligible State” means—

(A) the State of Alaska;

(B) the State of Hawaii;

(D) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;

(E) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

(F) the Federated States of Micronesia;

(G) Guam;

(H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;

(I) the Republic of Palau; and

(J) the United States Virgin Islands.

(d) Distribution of funds

(1) In generalOf the amount made available under subsection (g), the Secretary shall distribute—

(A) 40 percent to the State of Alaska;

(B) 40 percent to the State of Hawaii; and

(2) Carryover of funds

(3) Administrative fundsAn eligible State that receives funds under paragraph (1) may use not more than 3 percent of those funds—

(A) to administer the competition for providing subgrants to eligible entities in that eligible State;

(B) to provide oversight of the subgrant recipients in that eligible State; and

(e) Subgrants to eligible entities

(1) Amount of subgrants

(A) In generalThe amount of a subgrant to an eligible entity under this section shall be—

(i) in the case of an eligible entity that is an individual, not greater than $5,000 per year; and

(ii) in the case of an eligible entity described in any of clauses (ii) through (v) of subsection (b)(1)(A), not greater than $10,000 per year.

(B) Matching requirement

(2) PriorityIn carrying out the competitive distribution of subgrants under subsection (c), an eligible State may give priority to an eligible entity that—

(A) has not previously received a subgrant under this section; or

(B) is located in a community or region in that eligible State with the highest degree of food insecurity, as determined by the agricultural department or agency of the eligible State.

(3) Projects

(4) Use of subgrant funds by eligible entitiesAn eligible entity that receives a subgrant under this section shall use the funds to engage in activities that will increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food for food insecure individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities, including by—

(A) purchasing gardening tools or equipment, soil, soil amendments, seeds, plants, animals, canning equipment, refrigeration, or other items necessary to grow and store food;

(B) purchasing or building composting units;

(D) expanding an area under cultivation or engaging in other activities necessary to be eligible to receive funding under the environmental quality incentives program established under chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) for a high tunnel;

(E) engaging in an activity that extends the growing season;

(F) starting or expanding hydroponic and aeroponic farming of any scale;

(G) building, buying, erecting, or repairing fencing for livestock, poultry, or reindeer;

(H) purchasing and equipping a slaughter and processing facility approved by the Secretary;

(I) traveling to participate in agricultural education provided by—

(i) a State cooperative extension service;

(ii) a land-grant college or university (as defined in section 3103 of this title);

(iii) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 1059c(b) of title 20);

(iv) an Alaska Native-serving institution or a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as such terms are defined in section 1059d(b) of title 20); or

(v) a Federal or State agency;

(J) paying for shipping of purchased items relating to growing or raising food for local consumption or purchase;

(K) creating or expanding avenues for—

(i) the sale of food commodities, specialty crops, and meats that are grown by the eligible entity for sale in the local community; or

(ii) increasing the availability of fresh, locally grown, and nutritious food; and

(L) engaging in other activities relating to increasing food security (including subsistence), as determined by the Secretary.

(5) Eligibility for other financial assistance

(f) Reporting requirement

(1) Subgrant recipientsAs a condition of receiving a subgrant under this section, an eligible entity shall agree to submit to the eligible State in which the eligible entity is located a report—

(A) not later than 60 days after the end of the project funded by the subgrant; and

(B) that describes the use of the subgrants by eligible entities, the quantity of food grown through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations, and the number of food insecure individuals fed as a result of the subgrant.

(2) Report to the Secretary

(g) Funding

(1) Authorization of appropriations

(2) Appropriations in advance

(Pub. L. 115–334, title IV, § 4206, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4663.)