ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS.

SEC. 4402. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS. Section 25 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034) is amended—(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:“(a) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) Community food project.—In this section, the term ‘community food project’ means a community-based project that—“(A) requires a 1-time contribution of Federal assistance to become self-sustaining; and“(B) is designed—“(i)(I) to meet the food needs of low-income individuals;“(II) to increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and“(III) to promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; or“(ii) to meet specific State, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to—“(I) infrastructure improvement and development;“(II) planning for long-term solutions; or“(III) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.“(2) Center.—The term ‘Center’ means the healthy urban food enterprise development center established under subsection (h).“(3) Underserved community.—The term ‘underserved community’ means a community (including an urban or rural community or an Indian tribe) that, as determined by the Secretary, has—122 STAT. 1136“(A) limited access to affordable, healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables;“(B) a high incidence of a diet-related disease (including obesity) as compared to the national average;“(C) a high rate of hunger or food insecurity; or“(D) severe or persistent poverty.”;(2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and(3) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:“(h) Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Center.—“(1) Definition of eligible entity.—In this subsection, the term ‘eligible entity’ means—“(A) a nonprofit organization;“(B) a cooperative;“(C) a commercial entity;“(D) an agricultural producer;“(E) an academic institution;“(F) an individual; and“(G) such other entities as the Secretary may designate.“(2) Establishment.—The Secretary shall offer to provide a grant to a nonprofit organization to establish and support a healthy urban food enterprise development center to carry out the purpose described in paragraph (3).“(3) Purpose.—The purpose of the Center is to increase access to healthy affordable foods, including locally produced agricultural products, to underserved communities.“(4) Activities.—“(A) Technical assistance and information.—The Center shall collect, develop, and provide technical assistance and information to small and medium-sized agricultural producers, food wholesalers and retailers, schools, and other individuals and entities regarding best practices and the availability of assistance for aggregating, storing, processing, and marketing locally produced agricultural products and increasing the availability of such products in underserved communities.“(B) Authority to subgrant.—The Center may provide subgrants to eligible entities—“(i) to carry out feasibility studies to establish businesses for the purpose described in paragraph (3); and“(ii) to establish and otherwise assist enterprises that process, distribute, aggregate, store, and market healthy affordable foods.“(5) Priority.—In providing technical assistance and grants under paragraph (4), the Center shall give priority to applications that include projects—“(A) to benefit underserved communities; and“(B) to develop market opportunities for small and mid-sized farm and ranch operations.“(6) Report.—For each fiscal year for which the nonprofit organization described in paragraph (2) receives funds, the organization shall submit to the Secretary a report describing the activities carried out in the preceding fiscal year, including—“(A) a description of technical assistance provided by the Center;122 STAT. 1137“(B) the total number and a description of the subgrants provided under paragraph (4)(B);“(C) a complete listing of cases in which the activities of the Center have resulted in increased access to healthy, affordable foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly for school-aged children and individuals in low-income communities; and“(D) a determination of whether the activities identified in subparagraph (C) are sustained during the years following the initial provision of technical assistance and subgrants under this section.“(7) Competitive award process.—The Secretary shall use a competitive process to award funds to establish the Center.“(8) Limitation on administrative expenses.—Not more than 10 percent of the total amount allocated for this subsection in a given fiscal year may be used for administrative expenses.“(9) Funding.—“(A) In general.—Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2011.“(B) Additional funding.—There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 to carry out this subsection for fiscal year 2012.”.