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| Public Act 103-0957 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning State government. | ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly: | ||||
Section 5. The Grocery Initiative Act is amended by | ||||
changing Section 15 as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 750/15) | ||||
Sec. 15. Grocery Initiative Grants and Financial Support. | ||||
(a) The Department shall, subject to appropriation, | ||||
establish the Grocery Initiative to expand access to healthy | ||||
foods in food deserts in Illinois and areas at risk of becoming | ||||
food deserts in Illinois by providing grants and other forms | ||||
of financial assistance to independently owned for-profit | ||||
grocery stores, cooperative grocery stores, or not-for-profit | ||||
grocery stores, as well as grocery stores owned and operated | ||||
by local governmental units. The Department may enter into | ||||
contracts, grants, or other agreements to administer these | ||||
grants and other forms of financial assistance. The Department | ||||
may, by rule, place limits on the size of the grocery stores | ||||
that are eligible for grants and other financial assistance | ||||
under this Act, including, but not limited to, limits on the | ||||
annual revenue or projected revenue of the applicant, number | ||||
of full-time employees, or square footage of the facilities. | ||||
The Department may prioritize grant awards and loan funding to | ||||
applicants based on poverty rates, income, geographic | ||
diversity, local ownership, access to grocery stores in the | ||
area surrounding proposed project locations, and other factors | ||
as determined by the Department. The Department may award | ||
grants or provide loans 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. | ||
(b) The Department may, subject to appropriation, provide | ||
grants for equipment upgrades for existing independently owned | ||
for-profit grocery stores, cooperative grocery stores, or | ||
not-for-profit grocery stores, or farmer-owned grocery stores | ||
or markets. The Department shall use no more than 20% of total | ||
program funding for this purpose. Equipment upgrades shall be | ||
focused on providing access to equipment that is energy | ||
efficient. | ||
(Source: P.A. 103-561, eff. 1-1-24.) | ||