§7518 Micro-grants for Food Security

Summary

Creates a program to help food-insecure communities grow more and better local food. The Secretary of Agriculture gives money to the agriculture department or agency in each eligible State. Those State agencies hold a competition and give subgrants to local people and groups for small gardens, herding, and livestock projects. Eligible entity = who can get a subgrant: an individual; an Indian tribe or tribal organization; a nonprofit that works on food security (like a religious group, food bank, or food pantry); a federally funded school or training program (including Head Start, public K–12, colleges, Tribal Colleges, job training); or a local or Tribal government that cannot levy local taxes. Eligible State = Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The money is split so 40% goes to Alaska, 40% to Hawaii, and 2.5% to each of the other eligible States. Funds stay available until spent. A State may use up to 3% of its share for running the competition, overseeing grants, and collecting data. Individuals can get up to $5,000 per year. other eligible entities can get up to $10,000 per year. Recipients must provide 10% matching money from non‑Federal sources, though a State may waive that match for individuals. Grant money must be spent within 3 years. States may give priority to first-time grantees or to communities with the worst food insecurity. Allowed uses include buying tools, soil, seeds, animals, refrigeration or canning equipment, composting units, towers for greens, high tunnels, season-extension work, hydroponics/aeroponics, fencing, approved slaughter/processing equipment, travel for agricultural training, shipping, and market or distribution work that increases local fresh food. Getting one of these subgrants does not block other USDA help. Grant recipients must report within 60 days after their project ends on how funds were used, how much food was grown, and how many food-insecure people were fed. States must send an aggregated report to the Secretary within 120 days of getting those reports. The program is funded at $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each year after, and those funds remain available until spent; only money appropriated specifically for this program may be used.