N.Y. UDA Law § 16-W — New York Code / Act UDA / Section 16-W
Beginning farmers NY fund
Status: in_force

§ 16-w. Beginning farmers NY fund. 1. The beginning farmers NY fund is\nhereby created. The purpose of the beginning farmers NY fund is to make\ngrants to eligible applicants, to support beginning farmers and\nencourage them to consider farming as a career, resulting in the growth\nof agribusiness within the state and the concomitant tax revenues for\nthe state.\n  2. The corporation shall consult with the department of agriculture\nand markets in order to establish such criteria governing the award of\ngrants as authorized herein, as the corporation and such department deem\nnecessary. Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to, farmers\nwho have not produced an "agricultural product" as defined by section\nthree hundred twenty-eight of the agriculture and markets law, for more\nthan ten consecutive years, and who will materially and substantially\nparticipate in the production of an agricultural product within a region\nof the state.\n  3. Appropriations to the beginning farmers NY fund may be used for the\nfollowing purposes:\n  (a) to assist farmers in demonstrating innovative agricultural\ntechniques including, but not limited to, organic farming and specialty\ncrops.\n  (b) capital grants in accordance with a business plan to improve farm\nprofitability. Upon completion of such business plan, recipients shall\nbe eligible for capital grants to enhance the profitability of farming\noperations. Such grants may be used for purposes including, but not\nlimited to, the purchase of machinery or the construction or improvement\nof physical structures. Any capital grant shall be issued with a\none-to-one match between the state and recipient.\n  4. The corporation shall establish a competitive process for the\nevaluation of applicants for the beginning farmers NY fund. When\nawarding funds pursuant to this section, the corporation shall ensure\nthat applicants meet the criteria and requirements determined by the\ncorporation pursuant to this section.\n  5. The beginning farmers NY fund shall not invest an amount in any\nsingle beneficiary that exceeds fifty thousand dollars, subject to any\nexceptions to be established by guidelines of the corporation.\n  6. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the\ncorporation may establish a program fund for program use and pay into\nsuch fund any eligible funds available to the corporation from any\nsource, including moneys appropriated by the state.\n  7. The corporation shall submit a report annually on December\nthirty-first to the director of the budget, the temporary president of\nthe senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the\nsenate and the minority leader of the assembly detailing (a) the total\namount of funds committed to each applicant; (b) the location of each\napplicant; and (c) such other information as the corporation deems\nnecessary.\n  8. The corporation is hereby authorized to establish guidelines for\nthe administration of the program, including application procedures and\ndisbursement terms, and to provide for the repayment of funds received\nby the beneficiary if the beneficiary leaves New York state or otherwise\nceases farming activity within a period of time to be established by the\ncorporation.\n