N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 262: State aid for farmers' markets

§ 262. State aid for farmers' markets. 1. There is hereby created

within the department a program of grants for the purpose of providing

state assistance for farmer's markets. In administering such program,

the commissioner, to the extent feasible, shall ensure an equitable

distribution of awards to rural areas and other areas of the state.

State assistance provided pursuant to this section may be awarded for:

(a) the construction, reconstruction, improvement, expansion or

rehabilitation of farmers' markets. Grants provided pursuant to this

paragraph shall not exceed the lesser of fifty percent of project cost

or fifty thousand dollars per project in any fiscal year.

(b) the purpose of providing promotional support for farmer's markets.

Grants provided pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed the lesser

of fifty percent of project cost or seven thousand five hundred dollars

per applicant in any fiscal year.

(c) equipment costs associated with improving farmers' market

functions, including but not limited to expanding access to electronic

benefit transfer technology for farmers' markets and other

non-traditional food access points in food deserts in the state.

2. Any municipal corporation, regional market authority, public

benefit corporation, not-for-profit corporation or agricultural

cooperative organized pursuant to the cooperative corporations law, may

submit an application for state assistance for the construction,

reconstruction, improvement, expansion or rehabilitation of a farmers'

market under their control including assistance for engineering or

architectural designs for new or reconstructed facilities, and for

providing promotional support for farmers' markets.

3. The commissioner may approve or disapprove any application made

pursuant to this section, and shall consider the following in his

decision:

a. the relative impact of the proposed farmers' market project on the

economy of the area to be served;

b. the anticipated level of municipal and local participation in the

project;

c. the extent to which New York farmers would benefit, through the

direct sale of farm and food products;

d. the geographic distribution of monies appropriated for state

assistance for farmers' markets; and

e. the anticipated quantity of non-farm jobs which would be created

and retained due to the proposed project.

4. In administering the provisions of this section, the commissioner:

a. may in the name of the state, contract to make, within the

limitations of appropriations available therefor, state grants

representing the state share of the costs of projects approved and to be

undertaken pursuant to this section;

b. shall examine vouchers for the payment of assistance pursuant to an

approved contract and shall forward approved vouchers to the state

comptroller. All such payments shall be paid on the audit and warrant of

the state comptroller; and

c. may perform such other and further acts and promulgate such rules

and regulations as may be necessary, proper or desirable to carry out

the provisions of this section.