103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3219

 

Introduced 2/6/2024, by Sen. Doris Turner

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 750/15

    Amends the Grocery Initiative Act. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may, subject to appropriation, provide grants for equipment upgrades for farmer-owned grocery stores or markets.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Grocery Initiative Act is amended by
5changing Section 15 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 750/15)
7    Sec. 15. Grocery Initiative Grants and Financial Support.
8    (a) The Department shall, subject to appropriation,
9establish the Grocery Initiative to expand access to healthy
10foods in food deserts in Illinois and areas at risk of becoming
11food deserts in Illinois by providing grants and other forms
12of financial assistance to independently owned for-profit
13grocery stores, cooperative grocery stores, or not-for-profit
14grocery stores, as well as grocery stores owned and operated
15by local governmental units. The Department may enter into
16contracts, grants, or other agreements to administer these
17grants and other forms of financial assistance. The Department
18may, by rule, place limits on the size of the grocery stores
19that are eligible for grants and other financial assistance
20under this Act, including, but not limited to, limits on the
21annual revenue or projected revenue of the applicant, number
22of full-time employees, or square footage of the facilities.
23The Department may prioritize grant awards and loan funding to

 

 

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1applicants based on poverty rates, income, geographic
2diversity, local ownership, access to grocery stores in the
3area surrounding proposed project locations, and other factors
4as determined by the Department. The Department may award
5grants or provide loans for any one or more of the following:
6        (1) market and site feasibility studies, promotional
7    materials, and marketing;
8        (2) salaries and benefits for workers;
9        (3) rent or a down payment to acquire a facility;
10        (4) purchase of ownership of a grocery store as part
11    of establishing a new grocery store;
12        (5) capital improvements, planning, renovations, land
13    acquisition, demolition, durable and non-durable equipment
14    purchases; or
15        (6) other costs as determined eligible by the
16    Department.
17    (b) The Department may, subject to appropriation, provide
18grants for equipment upgrades for existing independently owned
19for-profit grocery stores, cooperative grocery stores, or
20not-for-profit grocery stores, or farmer-owned grocery stores
21or markets. The Department shall use no more than 20% of total
22program funding for this purpose. Equipment upgrades shall be
23focused on providing access to equipment that is energy
24efficient.
25(Source: P.A. 103-561, eff. 1-1-24.)