Eligible Applicants and Projects

Section 645.30  Eligible Applicants and Projects a)         An applicant shall own and operate a grocery store, seek to acquire a grocery store, or establish a grocery store.  Unless the applicant is a local governmental unit, the grocery store shall be independently owned and locally owned. b) The Department may award grants or provide loans to an applicant establishing a new grocery store in a food desert for any one or more of the following: 1) market and site feasibility studies, promotional materials, and marketing; 2) salaries and benefits for workers; 3) rent or a down payment to acquire a facility; 4) purchase of ownership of a grocery store as part of establishing a new grocery store; 5) capital improvements, planning, renovations, land acquisition, demolition, durable and non-durable equipment purchases; or 6) other costs as determined eligible by the Department , including, but not limited to, insurance and utility cost.  Costs unrelated to the provision of food, such as acquisition of video poker machines or equipment for lottery sales, are excluded . [20 ILCS 750/15] c)         In addition to the eligible uses listed in subsection (b), the Department may award a grant to an applicant that is a co-operative, non-for-profit corporation, or for-profit corporation for equipment upgrades focused on providing access to equipment that is energy efficient.  The Department shall use no more than 20% of total program funding for this purpose. [20 ILCS 750/15(b)]