I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3225 

To help provide funds for community gardens, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 15, 2009 

Mr. INSLEE (for himself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. 

MORAN of Virginia, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. BORDALLO, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, 

Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. ENGEL, Ms. KAPTUR, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. 

MCGOVERN, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Ms. WOOLSEY, and Mr. CLEAVER) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

A BILL 

To help provide funds for community gardens, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Community Gardens 

5 Act of 2009’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

7 The purpose of this Act is to establish a program 

8 to— 


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1 (1) establish community gardens to enhance the 

2 availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and help 

3 reduce greenhouse gas emissions; 

4 (2) promote healthy lifestyles; and 

5 (3) educate and train the public on the impor6 tance and value of community gardening. 

7 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

8 In this Act: 

9 (1) The term ‘‘community garden’’ means a 

10 garden for individuals in a local community. 

11 (2) The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— 

12 (A) a non-profit organization; 

13 (B) a public entity; 

14 (C) a community development organiza15 tion; 

16 (D) a Native American or tribal group; 

17 (E) a technical, educational, or outreach 

18 institution; 

19 (F) a State or local government; or 

20 (G) a State or local governmental organi21 zation. 

22 SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS. 

23 The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this Act 

24 referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may make grants, with 

25 such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines apVerDate Nov 24 2008 04:46 Jul 16, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3225.IH H3225

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1 propriate, to eligible entities for activities under section 

2 6. 

3 SEC. 5. APPLICATIONS. 

4 In order to receive a grant under this Act, an eligible 

5 entity shall submit an application in such form and con6 taining such information as the Secretary may require, in7 cluding the costs associated with a community garden for 

8 which the eligible entity will use the grant. 

9 SEC. 6. ACTIVITIES. 

10 An eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act 

11 may use that grant to engage in activities to establish, 

12 build, or operate community gardens. Such activities may 

13 include any or all of the following: 

14 (1) Acquiring any interest in real property. 

15 (2) Construction. 

16 (3) Community outreach. 

17 (4) Operations. 

18 (5) Any other appropriate activity. 

19 SEC. 7. ALLOCATION OF GRANTS. 

20 In making a grant under this Act, the Secretary shall 

21 consider the following: 

22 (1) Geographic diversity among grantees. 

23 (2) The number of individuals in a local com24 munity that are likely to participate in a community 

25 garden. 


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1 SEC. 8. GRANT RECIPIENT TO ENSURE TIMELY OPENING 

2 OF COMMUNITY GARDEN. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The eligible entity that receives 

4 the last grant made under this Act for a community gar5 den shall ensure that the community garden is operational 

6 not later than an opening date that is 2 years after the 

7 grant, unless the Secretary provides an exception. 

8 (b) SUBSEQUENT GRANTS TO VIOLATORS.—The Sec9 retary shall treat as an exception a failure by the eligible 

10 entity to ensure that the community garden is operational 

11 not later than the opening date if the eligible entity re12 ceives a grant under this Act for the community garden 

13 on or after the opening date. 

14 SEC. 9. LIMITATION ON USE OF REAL PROPERTY AC15 QUIRED WITH GRANT. 

16 An eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act 

17 that acquires an interest in real property for a community 

18 garden using the grant shall ensure that the interest in 

19 real property is used for the community garden for a pe20 riod of not less than 10 consecutive years, beginning on 

21 the opening date. 

22 SEC. 10. FEDERAL SHARE OF COSTS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—A grant under this section may 

24 not exceed 80 percent of the costs specified in the applica25 tion and associated with all community gardens assisted 

26 with the grant. 


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1 (b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY CONTRIBUTIONS.—An eligible 

2 entity may cover any of those costs that are not covered 

3 by the grant using cash or an in-kind contribution. 

Æ 


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