republic-os/legal/us/code/title-07/chapter-98/section-6953.md

type, title, description, jurisdiction, corpus, kind, title_number, title_name, chapter_number, chapter_name, section, citation, status, release_point, release_date, source, source_url, source_identifier, source_file, source_hash, raw_snapshot_hash, text_hash, retrieved_at, confidence, tags

type	title	description	jurisdiction	corpus	kind	title_number	title_name	chapter_number	chapter_name	section	citation	status	release_point	release_date	source	source_url	source_identifier	source_file	source_hash	raw_snapshot_hash	text_hash	retrieved_at	confidence	tags
LegalText	7 U.S.C. § 6953	Healthy food financing initiative	us	united_states_code	code_section	7	AGRICULTURE	98	DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REORGANIZATION	6953	7 U.S.C. § 6953	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc07@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t7/s6953	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-07/usc07.xml	beeb163236ea584b37f0814a01cf591ced7d7d8ddcded510927f1aaaac7741a8	50edab1679a711653797362c0aeb8f2273303fe473fb7fa16df1ee76bdd6e984	bbdb476da9009540934647f43e165190574f830edda95ad42c80ab11f0bddb25	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

7 U.S.C. § 6953 - Healthy food financing initiative

Text

(a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to enhance the authorities of the Secretary to support efforts to provide access to healthy food by establishing an initiative to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, to create and preserve quality jobs, and to revitalize low-income communities by providing loans and grants to eligible fresh, healthy food retailers and enterprises to overcome the higher costs and initial barriers to entry in underserved areas.

(b) Definitions In this section:

(1) Community development financial institution The term “community development financial institution” has the meaning given the term in section 4702 of title 12.

(2) Initiative The term “Initiative” means the Healthy Food Financing Initiative established under subsection (c)(1).

(3) National fund manager The term “national fund manager” means a community development financial institution that is—

(A) in existence on the date of enactment of this section; and

(B) certified by the Community Development Financial Institution Fund of the Department of Treasury to manage the Initiative for purposes of—

(i) raising private capital;

(ii) providing financial and technical assistance to partnerships; and

(iii) funding eligible projects to attract fresh, healthy food retailers and enterprises to underserved areas, in accordance with this section.

(4) Partnership The term “partnership” means a regional, State, or local public-private partnership that—

(A) is organized to improve access to fresh, healthy foods;

(B) provides financial and technical assistance to eligible projects; and

(C) meets such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.

(5) Perishable food The term “perishable food” means a staple food that is fresh, refrigerated, or frozen.

(6) Quality job The term “quality job” means a job that provides wages and other benefits comparable to, or better than, similar positions in existing businesses of similar size in similar local economies.

(7) Staple food (A) In general The term “staple food” means food that is a basic dietary item.

(B) Inclusions The term “staple food” includes—

(i) bread or cereal;

(ii) flour;

(iii) fruits;

(iv) vegetables;

(v) meat; and

(vi) dairy products.

(c) Initiative (1) Establishment The Secretary shall establish an initiative to achieve the purpose described in subsection (a) in accordance with this subsection.

(2) Implementation (A) In general (i) In general In carrying out the Initiative, the Secretary shall provide funding to entities with eligible projects, as described in subparagraph (B), subject to the priorities described in subparagraph (C).

(ii) Use of funds Funds provided to an entity pursuant to clause (i) shall be used—

(I) to create revolving loan pools of capital or other products to provide loans to finance eligible projects or partnerships;

(II) to provide grants for eligible projects or partnerships;

(III) to provide technical assistance to funded projects and entities seeking Initiative funding; and

(IV) to cover administrative expenses of the national fund manager in an amount not to exceed 10 percent of the Federal funds provided.

(B) Eligible projects Subject to the approval of the Secretary, the national fund manager shall establish eligibility criteria for projects under the Initiative, which shall include the existence or planned execution of agreements—

(i) to expand or preserve the availability of staple foods in underserved areas with moderate- and low-income populations by maintaining or increasing the number of retail outlets that offer an assortment of perishable food and staple food items, as determined by the Secretary, in those areas; and

(ii) as applicable, to accept benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).

(C) Priorities In carrying out the Initiative, priority shall be given to projects that—

(i) are located in severely distressed low-income communities, as defined by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the Department of Treasury; and

(ii) include 1 or more of the following characteristics:

(I) The project will create or retain quality jobs for low-income residents in the community.

(II) The project supports regional food systems and locally grown foods, to the maximum extent practicable.

(III) In areas served by public transit, the project is accessible by public transit.

(IV) The project involves women- or minority-owned businesses.

(V) The project receives funding from other sources, including other Federal agencies.

(VI) The project otherwise advances the purpose of this section, as determined by the Secretary.

(d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $125,000,000, to remain available until expended.

(Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 243, as added Pub. L. 113–79, title IV, § 4206, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 824; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title IV, § 4204, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4656.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

References in TextThe Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(B)(ii), is Pub. L. 88–525, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 703, which is classified generally to chapter 51 (§ 2011 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2011 of this title and Tables.

Amendments2018—Subsecs. (a), (b)(3)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4204(1), (2), inserted “and enterprises” after “retailers”. Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4204(3), inserted “as applicable,” before “to accept”.