Section 645.30  Eligible Applicants and Projects

a)         An applicant shall own and operate a grocery store, seek to acquire a grocery store, or establish a grocery store.  Unless the applicant is a local governmental unit, the grocery store shall be independently owned and locally owned. 

b)         The Department may award grants or provide loans to an applicant establishing a new grocery store in a food desert for any one or more of the following:

1)         market and site feasibility studies, promotional materials, and marketing;

2)         salaries and benefits for workers;

3)         rent or a down payment to acquire a facility;

4)         purchase of ownership of a grocery store as part of establishing a new grocery store;

5)         capital improvements, planning, renovations, land acquisition, demolition, durable and non-durable equipment purchases; or

6)         other costs as determined eligible by the Department, including, but not limited to, insurance and utility cost.  Costs unrelated to the provision of food, such as acquisition of video poker machines or equipment for lottery sales, are excluded. [20 ILCS 750/15]

c)         In addition to the eligible uses listed in subsection (b), the Department may award a grant to an applicant that is a co-operative, non-for-profit corporation, or for-profit corporation for equipment upgrades focused on providing access to equipment that is energy efficient.  The Department shall use no more than 20% of total program funding for this purpose. [20 ILCS 750/15(b)]