§ 24:4A-9, — Implementation of "Healthy Corner Store Program"

4. a. The department shall develop and implement a "Healthy Corner Store Program" to increase the availability and sales of fresh produce and nutritious, healthy food by small food retailers in rural and urban low income and moderate income areas. The department shall select at least one grantee in each community participating in the program to administer the program and distribute program funding to small food retailers in the community. b. To support the program, the department shall promote the availability of program funding Statewide, establish eligibility guidelines for funding, evaluate applicants, raise matching funds, and disburse funding through the "Healthy Small Food Retailer Fund," established pursuant to section 5 of this act. c. The department shall develop an application and applicant selection process and create eligibility guidelines for any organization applying to be selected as a grantee. To qualify for funding, an applicant shall: (1) provide proof satisfactory to the department that it is a nonprofit entity; (2) have a well-defined public health goal with standards based on the best available science; (3) agree to provide assistance to small food retailers located in low income or moderate income areas that: (a) accept, or agree to accept as a condition of receiving assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits; (b) agree to apply to accept Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children benefits, and accept those benefits if eligible; and (c) agree to abide by the department's conditions for receiving assistance; (4) collect and provide data and other information required by the department for program monitoring, accountability, and evaluation purposes; and (5) establish defined goals, standards, and accountability mechanisms to ensure that expenditures from the fund are appropriate and consistent with the purpose of this act, including: (a) identifying the basis for selecting each particular small food retailer or geographic area for assistance; (b) submitting and implementing a plan which includes specific targets and goals for increasing the sales of produce and other healthy foods by a small food retailer in the designated area, engaging the community to support the participating small food retailers, and establishing standards to assess performance and whether goals within the plan are met; and (c) engaging an advisory group of members of county or municipal agencies, such as planning or economic development entities, private or public universities, cooperative extensions, community-based organizations, and community members, to provide expertise and support and to coordinate other efforts to support the program and participating small food retailers. d. The department shall develop specific standards for selecting a small food retailer to participate as a designated healthy corner store. In determining whether a small food retailer is qualified, consideration shall be given to the level of need in the area served. As a condition of participation, a small food retailer shall sign a written agreement prior to receiving assistance. A grantee shall be authorized to monitor the participating small food retailers, and enforce the agreements if necessary. A grantee shall establish monitoring and accountability mechanisms for participating small food retailers. L.2019, c.15, s.4.