                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SELECTION OF CDFI; PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
(§ 36-156.5)

A. The Department shall establish a Program to provide grants funding the
construction, rehabilitation, equipment upgrades, or expansion of grocery
stores, small food retailers, or innovative food retail projects in underserved
communities. The Department shall select and work in collaboration with a CDFI
to assist in administering the Program and carrying out the purposes of the
Fund. The CDFI selected by the Department shall have (i) a statewide presence in
Virginia, (ii) experience in food-based lending, (iii) a proven track record of
leveraging private and philanthropic funding, and (iv) the capability to
dedicate sufficient staff to manage the Program. Working with the selected CDFI,
the Department shall establish monitoring and accountability mechanisms for
projects receiving funding and shall report annually the number of projects
funded; the geographic distribution of the projects; the costs of the Program;
and the outcomes, including the number and type of jobs created, and health
initiatives associated with the Program.

B. The Program shall:

   1. Identify food access projects that include grocery stores, small food
   retailers, and innovative food retail projects;

   2. Provide grants for the purposes described in subsection A;

   3. Require that grant recipients (i) accept expenditures of benefits provided
   under the supplemental nutrition assistance program in accordance with the
   federal Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. &#xA7; 2011 et seq.) and (ii) participate in
   a program that matches or supplements the benefits identified in clause (i),
   such as Virginia Fresh Match;

   4. Provide technical assistance; and

   5. Bring together community partners to sustain the Program.

C. The Department shall develop guidelines to carry out the Program to meet the
intent of the Fund. Up to 10 percent of the moneys in the Fund may be designated
for the CDFI&#8217;s administrative and operations costs to assist in
administering and managing the Program, unless those costs are provided for in
other budgets or in-kind resources.

HISTORY: 2020, cc. 956, 957.