A bill for an act creating a grocer reinvestment program, a local produce processing grant program, and a grocer reinvestment and local food processing fund under the purview of the economic development authority, modifying the local food and farm program, and making appropriations.

This bill creates two new programs to support grocery stores and local food processing in Iowa. It establishes a grocer reinvestment program providing grants (up to $200,000) to existing or new grocery stores in underserved communities for capital improvements, equipment, and technology, requiring matching funds from applicants. The local produce processing grant program funds Iowa-based entities to increase local food processing capacity, prioritizing projects sourcing from multiple Iowa farms. A dedicated fund, financed through state appropriations, will support both programs, with 10% of annual funds allocated to the processing program. The bill also modifies Iowa’s existing local food and farm program to explicitly include increasing grocery store availability and viability.