Program’’, to make grants to, enter into cooperative 
agreements with, or provide other capital support to eligi-
ble entities to carry out covered projects in accordance 
with subsection (e). 
(c) PURPOSE.—The purposes of the program are— 
(1) to strengthen the food systems security of 
the United States by efficiently investing in commu-
nity-led solutions to increasing access to land, cap-
ital, and markets for qualified beneficiaries; and 
(2) to support projects that— 
(A) support farm establishment and long- 
term farm business viability; 
(B) support the financial viability of quali-
fied beneficiaries; 
(C) support the physical and mental health 
of qualified beneficiaries; 
(D) increase land access; 
(E) prevent land loss; 
(F) establish innovative ways to make land 
accessible to qualified beneficiaries; 
(G) transition farmland from existing land-
owners to qualified beneficiaries; and 
(H) provide appropriate technical assist-
ance related to permissible activities described 
in subsection (e)(2). 
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(d) SELECTION.— 
(1) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligi-
ble to receive assistance under the program, an eligi-
ble entity shall submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require, in-
cluding— 
(A) information demonstrating that the 
covered project the eligible entity seeks to carry 
out is designed— 
(i) to serve qualified beneficiaries; and 
(ii) to meet the purposes of the pro-
gram described in subsection (c); 
(B) a description of how project activities 
will support the long-term financial viability of 
qualified beneficiaries; 
(C) a plan for notification and consultation 
with local Tribal governments for the future 
sale of land, if applicable; 
(D) an analysis of anticipated benefits to 
the community and the agricultural economy 
within the project area; and 
(E) a plan for evaluation, data manage-
ment, communication, and reporting of project 
findings and results. 
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(2) EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF APPLICA-
TIONS.— 
(A) EVALUATION
PROCESS.—The Sec-
retary shall develop a process for evaluating 
and selecting applications submitted under 
paragraph (1) in collaboration with the stake-
holder committee established under subpara-
graph (B). 
(B) STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall establish and con-
vene a stakeholder committee to provide 
input on the distribution of funds and the 
evaluation and selection of applications 
submitted under paragraph (1). 
(ii) CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that the stakeholder com-
mittee established under clause (i) includes 
perspectives reflecting— 
(I) the complexity of the rural 
and urban agricultural landscapes of 
the United States; and 
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(II) the wide variety of agricul-
tural production models employed by 
qualified beneficiaries. 
(C) PRIORITY.—In selecting applications 
submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall give priority to applications for covered 
projects that— 
(i) provide direct financial assistance 
to qualified beneficiaries; 
(ii) involve a substantial and effective 
collaborative network or partnership of 
public or private entities; 
(iii) include a right of first refusal for 
Tribal citizens or governments when land 
becomes available on or near Tribal com-
munities; 
(iv) involve mechanisms, such as a 
deed restriction or conservation easement, 
that restrict the resale value of eligible 
land to protect the land for agricultural 
use; 
(v) support the voluntary transition of 
agricultural land from existing producers 
to qualified beneficiaries; 
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(vi) provide technical assistance, in-
cluding translation and interpretation serv-
ices; 
(vii) include activities under sub-
section (e) designed to support farm-
workers; or 
(viii) support long-term adoption of 
conservation practices that are consistent 
with conservation practice standards of the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service 
and designed to achieve conservation out-
comes. 
(e) COVERED PROJECTS.— 
(1) REQUIRED USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible en-
tity that receives assistance under the program shall 
provide direct assistance to qualified beneficiaries in 
order to facilitate access to land, capital, and mar-
kets, which may include payments— 
(A) to acquire real property (including air 
rights, water rights, and other interests there-
in), including closing costs; 
(B) to subsidize interest rates and mort-
gage principal amounts for qualified bene-
ficiaries; 
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(C) to provide down payment assistance to 
decrease farm mortgages; 
(D) to secure clear title on heirs’ property; 
(E) to conduct surveys and assessments of 
eligible land; 
(F) to improve or remediate land, water, 
and soil; 
(G) to construct or repair infrastructure; 
(H) to support land use planning; 
(I) to acquire succession planning assist-
ance; 
(J) to carry out Tribal consultation; 
(K) to support acquisition of a Department 
of Agriculture farm number; and 
(L) for any other activities, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
(2) PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES.—An eligible enti-
ty that receives assistance under the program may 
use the funds— 
(A) for activities associated with strength-
ening the economic security of qualified bene-
ficiaries by increasing access to markets and 
capital; 
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(B) to provide direct assistance to qualified 
beneficiaries in assessing, purchasing, acquir-
ing, or retaining eligible land; 
(C) for activities designed to support farm 
establishment and long-term viability; 
(D) to establish a revolving loan fund or 
other innovative financial mechanism designed 
for the purpose of investing in covered projects 
beyond the initial project timeline; and 
(E) to provide technical assistance that 
meets the specific needs of, and is accessible to 
qualified beneficiaries, including— 
(i) providing translation and interpre-
tation services; 
(ii) developing and carrying out strat-
egies to identify unique needs and gaps in 
access, knowledge, and services; and 
(iii) specialized consultation, training, 
coaching, capacity building, and mentoring 
focused on— 
(I) accessing, purchasing, acquir-
ing, or retaining eligible land; 
(II) comprehension of, prepara-
tion to apply for, and complying with 
Department of Agriculture programs; 
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(III) succession planning; 
(IV) market planning and risk 
analysis; 
(V) cooperative development; 
(VI) legal and tax issues; 
(VII) developing business plans 
and feasibility studies; 
(VIII) financial planning and rec-
ordkeeping; 
(IX) enterprise, business, and 
labor management; and 
(X) any other activities as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(3) SUBCONTRACT.—An eligible entity may 
subcontract with an organization to carry out a use 
or activity under paragraph (1) or (2) if the services 
of the subcontractor are necessary. 
(4) FUNDING MECHANISM.— 
(A) ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—The Secretary 
shall make funding available under the program 
to eligible entities in the form of— 
(i) grants; 
(ii) cooperative agreements; 
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(iii) capitalization loans, in the case of 
an activity described in paragraph (2)(D); 
or 
(iv) other means, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
(B) QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES.—In car-
rying out covered projects under the program, 
an eligible entity shall provide direct assistance 
to qualified beneficiaries in the form of— 
(i) grants; 
(ii) loans (both long-term and in-
terim); or 
(iii) other direct payments or assist-
ance, as determined by the Secretary. 
(5) REPAYMENT OF FUNDS IN CASE OF NON-
COMPLIANCE.—An eligible entity that violates the 
terms or conditions of assistance provided under the 
program shall reimburse the Secretary for that as-
sistance. 
(f) FUNDING.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section. 
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(2) AGENCY CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNT.—In ad-
dition to amounts otherwise made available under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary may use funds avail-
able through 1 or more contribution accounts estab-
lished under section 1241(f)(1) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(f)(1)). 
(3) ADMINISTRATION.—Of the amounts made 
available to carry out the program, the Secretary 
may use an appropriate amount for the costs of im-
plementing and administering the program. 
(4) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— 
(A) LIMITATION.—An eligible entity that 
receives assistance under the program shall ob-
ligate the amounts for a covered project by not 
later than 5 years after the date on which the 
funds are made available to the eligible entity, 
unless the Secretary determines otherwise. 
(B) EXCLUSION.—In the case of a covered 
project to support qualified beneficiaries in as-
sessing, purchasing, acquiring, or retaining eli-
gible land for a period longer than the 5-year 
period described in subparagraph (A), section 
200.311 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or a successor regulation) shall not apply. 
Æ 
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