2023 New York Laws › AGM - Agriculture and Markets › Article 22 - Farmers' Markets › 262 - State Aid for Farmers' Markets.

§ 262. State  aid  for  farmers'  markets.  1. There is hereby created
within the department a program of grants for the purpose  of  providing
state  assistance  for  farmer's markets. In administering such program,
the commissioner, to the extent  feasible,  shall  ensure  an  equitable
distribution  of  awards  to  rural  areas and other areas of the state.
State assistance provided pursuant to this section may be awarded for:
(a)  the  construction,  reconstruction,  improvement,  expansion   or
rehabilitation  of  farmers'  markets.  Grants provided pursuant to this
paragraph shall not exceed the lesser of fifty percent of  project  cost
or fifty thousand dollars per project in any fiscal year.
(b) the purpose of providing promotional support for farmer's markets.
Grants  provided  pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed the lesser
of fifty percent of project cost or seven thousand five hundred  dollars
per applicant in any fiscal year.
(c)   equipment   costs  associated  with  improving  farmers'  market
functions, including but not limited to expanding access  to  electronic
benefit   transfer   technology   for   farmers'   markets   and   other
non-traditional food access points in food deserts in the state.
2.  Any  municipal  corporation,  regional  market  authority,  public
benefit   corporation,   not-for-profit   corporation   or  agricultural
cooperative organized pursuant to the cooperative corporations law,  may
submit  an  application  for  state  assistance  for  the  construction,
reconstruction, improvement, expansion or rehabilitation of  a  farmers'
market  under  their  control  including  assistance  for engineering or
architectural designs for  new  or  reconstructed  facilities,  and  for
providing promotional support for farmers' markets.
3.  The  commissioner  may  approve or disapprove any application made
pursuant to this section,  and  shall  consider  the  following  in  his
decision:
a.  the relative impact of the proposed farmers' market project on the
economy of the area to be served;
b. the anticipated level of municipal and local participation  in  the
project;
c.  the  extent  to  which New York farmers would benefit, through the
direct sale of farm and food products;
d. the  geographic  distribution  of  monies  appropriated  for  state
assistance for farmers' markets; and
e.  the  anticipated  quantity of non-farm jobs which would be created
and retained due to the proposed project.
4. In administering the provisions of this section, the commissioner:
a. may in the  name  of  the  state,  contract  to  make,  within  the
limitations   of   appropriations   available   therefor,  state  grants
representing the state share of the costs of projects approved and to be
undertaken pursuant to this section;
b. shall examine vouchers for the payment of assistance pursuant to an
approved contract and shall  forward  approved  vouchers  to  the  state
comptroller. All such payments shall be paid on the audit and warrant of
the state comptroller; and
c.  may  perform such other and further acts and promulgate such rules
and regulations as may be necessary, proper or desirable  to  carry  out
the provisions of this section.