SF 3310

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/07/2016 09:46am

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; establishing an urban agriculture development pilot
program; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin URBAN AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PILOT PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall establish and administer
an urban agriculture development pilot program to provide competitive grants to eligible
cities; Native American tribal communities; and individuals, nonprofit organizations,
and cooperatives located in eligible cities.
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new text begin (b) For purposes of this section, "urban agriculture" means producing plants, poultry,
livestock, compost, or other agricultural products on public or private property within city
limits including, but not limited to, residential land farmed by the property's stewards and
caretakers for market, community, or personal use.
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new text begin (c) For purposes of this section, "eligible city" means:
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new text begin (1) a city with a population over 10,000; or
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new text begin (2) a city where at least ten percent of the population is comprised of communities of
color or Native American tribal communities living at or below 200 percent of the poverty
threshold as determined by the United States Census Bureau.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Competitive grants. new text end

new text begin Grant applications must be submitted to the
commissioner in the form prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner must award
competitive grants based on the applicant's commitment to:
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new text begin (1) increase urban agriculture production capacity;
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new text begin (2) create living-wage jobs;
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new text begin (3) increase fresh food access, including access to affordable organic foods, to
improve both local and regional food security;
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new text begin (4) reduce or eliminate health disparities related to food access;
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new text begin (5) promote value-added agricultural production;
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new text begin (6) provide entrepreneurial opportunities;
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new text begin (7) enhance community education;
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new text begin (8) involve youth;
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new text begin (9) promote racial equity by engaging and increasing food access for low-income
communities, communities of color, and Native American tribal communities;
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new text begin (10) provide healthy food, including fresh, culturally appropriate foods, to food
shelves and similar charitable organizations;
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new text begin (11) extend the growing season;
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new text begin (12) develop or enhance farm-to-school channels;
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new text begin (13) reduce waste or make more efficient use of energy, water, nutrients, or other
inputs;
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new text begin (14) provide environmental benefits including, but not limited to, clean water,
healthy soils, carbon sequestration, and pollinator habitat;
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new text begin (15) promote organic and sustainable agriculture;
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new text begin (16) create food hubs and other collaborative infrastructure for urban agriculture
including shared storage facilities, processing equipment, and product marketing;
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new text begin (17) increase food justice;
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new text begin (18) protect the tenure of urban farmers, if the grantee is not the owner of the land
but has a lease agreement; or
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new text begin (19) expand the supply of urban agricultural land available for permanent use.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Repayment required. new text end

new text begin (a) A city must repay to the commissioner an
amount equal to three times the amount of each grant received under this section if the city
terminates a lease or adopts, amends, or repeals an ordinance or a resolution resulting in
an individual, nonprofit organization, or cooperative losing the ability to continue farming
the same parcel of land for at least five additional years.
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new text begin (b) Repayment is not required under paragraph (a) if the activities of the individual,
nonprofit organization, or cooperative constituted a public nuisance; if the individual,
nonprofit organization, or cooperative did not farm the parcel in two of the prior three
years; or if the land is used for affordable housing development. If a city uses the parcel
for affordable housing, the city must provide replacement land comparable in location,
farming qualities, size, and soil quality.
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new text begin (c) An individual, nonprofit organization, cooperative, or Native American tribal
community must repay to the commissioner an amount equal to three times the amount
of each grant received under this section if the individual, nonprofit organization,
cooperative, or Native American tribal community sells or leases the land used for urban
farming for nonagricultural development that is not affordable housing development
within five years of receiving a grant.
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new text begin (d) For purposes of this subdivision, "affordable housing development" has the
meaning given in section 462.355, subdivision 3.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires June 30, 2018.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of agriculture for purposes of section 1 and is available until June 30, 2018.
Between July 1, 2016, and January 1, 2017, $10,000,000 of this appropriation is reserved
for grants to serve, engage, and benefit communities of color and Native American tribal
communities. Between January 2, 2017, and June 30, 2018, the commissioner must award
remaining funds to any eligible entity.
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