N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 297: Food and agriculture industry development; program created

§ 297. Food and agriculture industry development; program created. 1.

Creation. There is hereby created within the department a food and

agriculture industry development program.

2. Purpose. The purpose of the food and agriculture industry

development program shall be to share the cost of implementing

innovative and low risk approaches to the research, development,

production, processing and distribution of agricultural products and

quality foods that capitalize on the state's unique resources and

strategic location near significant markets. With an emphasis on

programmatic results, such program shall be designed to favor projects

which will have an economic benefit to the state's economy and food

supply in the near term, and which will have a lasting effect and

long-term economic value to business development and job creation.

3. Powers of the commissioner. The commissioner is hereby authorized

to issue requests for proposals to implement the food and agriculture

industry development program; to award project grants within the limits

of any appropriations therefor, provided that grant recipients match

awards with at least equal amounts of funds in the form of cash, in-kind

services or other resources; and to contract for services with eligible

applicants to carry out such program.

4. Eligible projects. Projects involving new product development;

alternative production, processing, distribution and marketing

technologies; introduction of high technologies; or organizational

methods that further development of the food and agriculture industry in

the state shall be eligible for grant awards pursuant to the food and

agriculture industry development program. Also eligible shall be

projects involving farm woodland or fresh water aquatic products

produced in either natural or man-made water bodies or in natural or

man-made controlled structures. Projects that include public-private

partnership investments, and with a strong potential for near-term

commercial application and long-term economic value to the state and

localities, shall be given priority.

5. Targeted projects. The commissioner may set-aside up to twenty-five

percent of any moneys appropriated for the purposes of the food and

agriculture industry development program for projects that exhibit

special regional or state-wide significance for food and agriculture

industry development and that meet the project eligibility requirements

established pursuant to this article.

6. Eligible applicants. Public and private agencies and organizations,

business and industry, educational institutions, local governments and

individuals shall be eligible to submit proposals for funding pursuant

to this article.

7. Grant awards. Project grants for contractual services that further

development of the state's food and agriculture industry as described in

this article shall be awarded on a competitive basis through a request

for proposal process. Such grants shall be awarded for worthwhile

projects throughout the state, to the extent practicable, so that broad

geographic representation is achieved. At least one solicitation for

project proposals shall be held within each fiscal year in which

appropriations are made for the food and agriculture industry

development program. Grant awards for an individual project shall not

exceed sixty thousand dollars within a single state fiscal year.

8. Request for proposal guidelines. The commissioner shall, in

consultation with the advisory council on agriculture, develop rules and

regulations for proposal submission pursuant to this article, including

but not limited to: project eligibility and selection process; project

proposal format; eligible costs; project implementation; and reporting.

9. Advice of advisory council on agriculture. The commissioner shall

seek the recommendations and advice of the advisory council on

agriculture regarding the development and promulgation of the request

for proposal rules and regulations and the submission of biennial

reports for the food and agriculture industry development program.

10. Technology transfer. The commissioner, in consultation with the

empire state development corporation, the Cornell cooperative extension

service and food and agriculture industry representatives, shall share

technological innovations developed as a result of the food and

agriculture industry development program with the food and agriculture

industry.

11. Preparation and distribution of reports. The commissioner shall

submit a biennial report to the governor and legislature describing the

progress of the food and agriculture industry development program. The

first report shall be submitted on or before September first, two

thousand one.