US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

7 U.S.C. § 2034

Assistance for community food projects

(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 through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service;
(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, food access, farm, and nutrition issues; or
(ii)
to meet specific State, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to—
(I)
equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project;
(II)
planning for long-term solutions; or
(III)
the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.
(2)

Gleaner

The term “gleaner” means an entity that—
(A)
collects edible, surplus food that would be thrown away and distributes the food to agencies or nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry; or
(B)
harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to agencies or nonprofit organizations for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner of the crop.
(3)

Hunger-free communities goal

The term “hunger-free communities goal” means any of the 14 goals described in House Concurrent Resolution 302, 102nd Congress, agreed to .

(b)

Authority to provide assistance

(1)

In general

From amounts made available to carry out this chapter, the Secretary may make grants to assist eligible private nonprofit entities to establish and carry out community food projects.

(2)

Limitation on grants

The total amount of funds provided as grants under this section may not exceed—
(A)
$1,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;
(B)
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2014;
(C)
$9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2018; and
(D)
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter.
(c)

Eligible entities

To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b), a public food program service provider, a tribal organization, or a private nonprofit entity, including gleaners, must—
(1)
have experience in the area of—
(A)
community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-sized farms, including the provision of food to people in low-income communities and the development of new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers;
(B)
job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities; or
(C)
efforts to reduce food insecurity in the community, including food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating services and programs;
(2)
demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation;
(3)
demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties; and
(4)
collaborate with 1 or more local partner organizations to achieve at least 1 hunger-free communities goal.
(d)

Preference for certain projects

In selecting community food projects to receive assistance under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give a preference to projects designed to—
(1)
develop linkages between 2 or more sectors of the food system;
(2)
support the development of entrepreneurial projects;
(3)
develop innovative linkages between the for-profit and nonprofit food sectors;
(4)
encourage long-term planning activities, and multisystem, interagency approaches with multistakeholder collaborations, that build the long-term capacity of communities to address the food and agricultural problems of the communities, such as food policy councils and food planning associations; or
(5)
develop new resources and strategies to help reduce food insecurity in the community and prevent food insecurity in the future by—
(A)
developing creative food resources;
(B)
coordinating food services with park and recreation programs and other community-based outlets to reduce barriers to access; or
(C)
creating nutrition education programs for at-risk populations to enhance food-purchasing and food-preparation skills and to heighten awareness of the connection between diet and health.
(e)

Matching funds requirements

(1)

Requirements

The Federal share of the cost of establishing or carrying out a community food project that receives assistance under subsection (b) may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project during the term of the grant.

(2)

Calculation

In providing for the non-Federal share of the cost of carrying out a community food project, the entity receiving the grant shall provide for the share through a payment in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services.

(3)

Sources

An entity may provide for the non-Federal share through State government, local government, or private sources.

(f)

Term of grant

(1)

Single grant

A community food project may be supported by only a single grant under subsection (b).

(2)

Term

The term of a grant under subsection (b) may not exceed 5 years.

(g)

Technical assistance and related information

(1)

Technical assistance

In carrying out this section, the Secretary may provide technical assistance regarding community food projects, processes, and development to an entity seeking the assistance.

(2)

Sharing information

(A)

In general

The Secretary may provide for the sharing of information concerning community food projects and issues among and between government, private for-profit and nonprofit groups, and the public through publications, conferences, and other appropriate forums.

(B)

Other interested parties

The Secretary may share information concerning community food projects with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.

(h)

Reports to Congress

Not later than , and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes each grant made under this section, including—
(1)
a description of any activity funded;
(2)
the degree of success of each activity funded in achieving hunger-free community goals; and
(3)
the degree of success in improving the long-term capacity of a community to address food and agriculture problems related to hunger or access to healthy food.

Pub. L. 88–525, § 25Pub. L. 104–127, title IV, § 401(h)110 Stat. 1027Pub. L. 107–171, title IV, § 4125(a)116 Stat. 326Pub. L. 110–234, title IV122 Stat. 1135Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664Pub. L. 110–380, § 1(a)122 Stat. 4080Pub. L. 113–79, title IV, § 4026128 Stat. 810Pub. L. 115–334, title IV132 Stat. 4648(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , §§ 4402, 4406(a)(7), , , 1141; , title IV, §§ 4402, 4406(a)(7), , , 1896, 1902; , , ; , , ; , §§ 4017, 4022(8), , , 4654.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

106 Stat. 5204House Concurrent Resolution 302, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is H. Con. Res. 302, , , which is not classified to the Code.

Codification

Section 4406(a)(7) of Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–380Public Law 110–234122 Stat. 2902section 4406(a)(7) of Pub. L. 110–246section 4406(a)(7) of Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–380section 4406(a)(7) of Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–380section 4406(a)(7) of Pub. L. 110–246 directed amendment of section 25 of the “Food and Nutrition Act of 2008” which is classified to this section. , which directed amendment of section 4406(a)(7) of the “Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (; )” by striking “Food and Nutrition Act of 2008” and inserting “Food Stamp Act of 1977” was treated as intending to amend which was identical to . However, since the amendment by was effective , and the amendment by was effective , had no effect on the execution of the amendment by to this section.

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by were repealed by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–334, § 4022(8)2018—Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i)(I). , substituted “service;” for “service;;”.

Pub. L. 115–334, § 4017(2)Subsec. (b)(2)(C). , substituted “each of fiscal years 2015 through 2018; and” for “fiscal year 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter.”

Pub. L. 115–334, § 4017(1)Subsec. (b)(2)(D). , (3), added subpar. (D).

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(1)(A)(i)(I)2014—Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i)(I). , inserted “through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service;” after “individuals”.

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(1)(A)(i)(II)Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i)(III). , inserted “food access,” after “food,”.

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(1)(A)(ii)Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(ii)(I). , added subcl. (I) and struck out former subcl. (I) which read as follows: “infrastructure improvement and development;”.

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(1)(B)Subsec. (a)(2), (3). , added pars. (2) and (3) and struck out former pars. (2) and (3) which defined “Center” and “underserved community”, respectively.

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(2)(B)Subsec. (b)(2)(B). , substituted “each of fiscal years 2008 through 2014; and” for “fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter.”

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(2)Subsec. (b)(2)(C). , added subpar. (C).

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(3)(A)Subsec. (c). , substituted “public food program service provider, a tribal organization, or a private nonprofit entity, including gleaners,” for “private nonprofit entity” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(3)(B)Subsec. (c)(1)(C). , added subpar. (C).

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(3)(C)Subsec. (c)(4). –(E), added par. (4).

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(4)Subsec. (d)(5). , added par. (5).

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(5)Subsec. (f)(2). , substituted “5 years” for “3 years”.

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4026(6)Subsecs. (h), (i). , added subsec. (h) and struck out former subsecs. (h) and (i) which related to healthy urban food enterprise development center and innovative programs for addressing common community problems, respectively.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 4402(1)2008—Subsec. (a). , added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which defined “community food project”.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 4406(a)(7)(A)Pub. L. 110–380Subsec. (b)(2)(B). , as amended by , substituted “for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter” for “for each of fiscal years 1997 through 2007”. See Codification note above.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 4402(2)Subsecs. (h), (i). , (3), added subsec. (h) and redesignated former subsec. (h) as (i).

Pub. L. 110–246, § 4406(a)(7)(B)Pub. L. 110–380Subsec. (i)(4). , as amended by , substituted “each fiscal year thereafter” for “each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007”. See Codification note above.

Pub. L. 107–171, § 4125(a)(1)2002—Subsec. (a). , designated pars. (1) to (3) as subpars. (A) to (C) of par. (1), respectively, and added par. (2).

Pub. L. 107–171, § 4125(a)(2)Subsec. (b)(2)(B). , substituted “$5,000,000” for “$2,500,000” and “2007” for “2002”.

Pub. L. 107–171, § 4125(a)(3)Subsec. (d)(4). , added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: “encourage long-term planning activities and multi-system, interagency approaches.”

Pub. L. 107–171, § 4125(a)(4)Subsec. (h). , added subsec. (h) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (h). Text read as follows:

In general“(1) .—The Secretary shall provide for the evaluation of the success of community food projects supported using funds under this section.

Report“(2) .—Not later than , the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress regarding the results of the evaluation.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of this titleAmendment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Pub. L. 110–246section 4407 of Pub. L. 110–246section 1161 of Title 2Amendment by sections 4402 and 4406(a)(7) of effective , see , set out as a note under , The Congress.

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–171, title IV, § 4125(b)116 Stat. 327

“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that: