Establishes the healthy options and community outreach program

Section two amends the tax law by adding a new subdivision 49 of section 210-B to create the credit for convenience stores and small grocers who participate in the healthy options and community outreach program.

Section three amends the tax law adding a new subsection (ccc) to section 606 to include the credit for convenience stores and small grocers who participate in the healthy options and community outreach program.

Section four ensures that the empire state development corporation develop, establish and implement a public awareness campaign regarding the healthy options and community outreach program, to include information on the benefits of healthy eating and the availability of those foods and beverages in the local community.

Section five sets forth the effective date

Justification

In 2009, New York state created a program called Healthy Food and Healthy Communities fund which provides financing to supermarket and grocery operators to open stores in places across the state that may not have access to fresh nutritious foods This bill would build upon that program by encouraging small store operators to upgrade their facilities if needed in order to offer more healthy options. There are many areas across the state without a grocery store nearby, making the local bodega or convenience store the only place to stop for grocery needs.

This bill provides tax credits for owners who commit to selling healthy food and drinks at their shops of up to 100% of the cost over five years if they have to expand, purchase coolers or shelving for the purposes of selling these products. But, access to healthy foods is only part of the solution; Empire State Development Corporation will be tasked with implementing a public awareness campaign to explain the benefits of healthy eating as well as where to go to get them. This statewide program is based on a program adopted in New York city in 2006 to expand the options and demand for healthy foods at their corner stores and bodegas in areas with the highest poverty and chronic disease. New York city found that store owners can only stock what people will buy, so it was important to have a public awareness campaign in order to sustain the healthy changes they were looking for They also found that there needs to be a variety of approaches, with a lot of support and assistance in connecting store owners with the healthy food suppliers and farmers, training on how to purchase, price and store fresh produce as well as how to present it in store. Advertising and promotional materials were key to the store owners success. This bill builds upon the successes of New York city and takes it statewide with the help of Empire State Development corporation, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets. Funds will be spent in targeted communities across New York state with store owners who are interested in participating and make the long term commitment to ensure citizens have new and continuing access to healthy options.

Prior legislative history

New Bill

Fiscal implications

To be determined

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately; provided that sections two and three of this act shall apply to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2017.