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UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1623
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AN ACT relating to the grocery store initiative fund. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 205 IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury a revolving account to be 5
known as the grocery store initiative fund. The fund shall consist of moneys 6
received f rom state appropriations, gifts, grants, federal funds, and all 7
repayment, interest, or other return on the investment of fund dollars as 8
required by this section. 9
(b) The fund shall be administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family 10
Services. 11
(c) Moneys in the fund shall be used for the purposes set forth in this section. 12
(d) All repayment, interest, or other return on the investment of fund moneys 13
are required to be returned to the fund and used for eligible activities in 14
accordance with this section. 15
(e) Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, any moneys remaining in the fund at the 16
close of the fiscal year shall not lapse but shall be carried forward into the 17
next fiscal year. 18
(2) The cabinet shall utilize the grocery store initiative fund to expand access to 19
healthy foods in underserved areas by providing grants, loans, and technical 20
assistance to eligible food retailers and food enterprises that are independently 21
owned for -profit grocery stores, cooperative grocery stores, nonprofit grocery 22
stores, or grocery stores owned and operated by local governmental units. 23
(3) The cabinet may place limits on the size of the food retailers and food enterprises 24
that are eligible for grants, loans, and technical assistance, including limits on 25
the annual revenue or projected revenue of the applicant, number of full -time 26
employees, or square footage of the facilities. 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1623
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(4) The cabinet may prioritize grants, loans, public -private partnerships, and 1
technical assistance to applicants based on poverty rates, income, geographic 2
diversity, local ownership, access to grocery stores in the area surrounding 3
proposed project locations, and other factors as determined by the cabinet. 4
(5) The cabinet may make grants, loans, public -private partnerships, and technical 5
assistance awards for one (1) or more of the following: 6
(a) Market and site feasibility studies, promotional materials, and marketing; 7
(b) Salaries and benefits for workers; 8
(c) Rent or a down payment to acquire a facility; 9
(d) Establishing a new grocery store; 10
(e) Capital improvements, planning, renovations, land acquisition, demolition, 11
and durable and nondurable equipment purchases; 12
(f) Upgrades for existing food retailers and food enterprises; and 13
(g) Other costs as determined to be eligible by the cabinet. 14
(6) By October 1, 2027, and October 1 of each year thereafter, the cabinet shall 15
submit a report to the Governor and the Legislative Research Commission for 16
referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services, which shall include: 17
(a) A summary of all grants, loans, public -private partnerships, and technical 18
assistance awards; 19
(b) An account of all funds received and awarded; 20
(c) A summary of all progress on activities funded; and 21
(d) Any recommendations for future initiatives or actions. 22
(7) The cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS 23
Chapter 13A to implement this section. 24