What's happening
This bill creates the Young Farmers NY Fund to provide grants supporting young and innovative farmers, replacing the Empire State Economic Development Fund.
Why it matters
Targets early-career and innovative farmers. The fund is specifically designed for farmers who have been producing for ten years or less, and it prioritizes those using innovative techniques (like organic or specialty crops). This focuses support on new entrants and creative approaches, potentially diversifying and modernizing New York’s agricultural sector.
Prioritizes small farms and job creation. Grants are directed toward farms of 150 acres or less and applicants who can demonstrate that their projects will create or retain agricultural jobs. This could help stabilize rural economies and encourage younger generations to remain in or return to farming communities.
Imposes grant limits and accountability. No single recipient can receive more than $50,000 (with possible exceptions), and annual reporting on fund usage, job impacts, and farm locations is required. This intends to ensure transparency, prevent over-concentration of resources, and allow legislators and the public to gauge the program’s effectiveness.
Includes safeguards and clawback provisions. Rules may require repayment if a beneficiary leaves New York within a set period. This aims to keep state investment in local agriculture rather than supporting farmers who might relocate, thereby maximizing the economic benefit to New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund Young New York Farmers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
17 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to economic development
- Referred to economic development
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4411
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE, CROUCH, FINCH, GUNTHER, HAWLEY, OTIS, ROSENTHAL, JENNE, SKOUFIS, STIRPE, JAFFEE, LUPINACCI, MAGNARELLI, MONTESANO, SEPULVEDA, PEOPLES-STOKES, TITONE, DiPIETRO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, BUTLER, COOK, GOTTFRIED, LUPARDO, McLAUGHLIN, PALMESANO, SIMANOWITZ, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the urban development corporation act, in relation to a young farmers NY fund; and to repeal section 16-i of such act relating to the empire state economic development fund
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 16-i of section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act is REPEALED and a new section 16-i is added to read as follows:
§ 16-i. Young farmers NY fund. 1. The young farmers NY fund is hereby created. The purpose of the young farmers NY fund is to make grants to eligible applicants, within available appropriations, to support young farmers and encourage them to consider farming as a career, resulting in the growth of agribusiness within the state and the concomitant creation of jobs and tax revenues for the state.
2. The corporation shall consult with the department of agriculture and markets in order to establish such criteria governing the award of grants as authorized herein, as the corporation and such department deem necessary. Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) farmers who have not produced an "agricultural product" as defined in the agriculture and markets law, for more than ten consecutive years, and who will materially and substantially participate in the production of an agricultural product within the state.
(ii) farmers who demonstrate innovative agricultural techniques including, but not limited to, organic farming and specialty crops.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08826-02-7
A. 4411 2
(iii) the anticipated number of agricultural jobs which would be created or retained.
(iv) farms of one hundred fifty acres or less.
3. The corporation shall establish a competitive process for the evaluation of applicants for the young farmer NY fund. When awarding funds pursuant to this section, the corporation shall ensure that applicants meet the criteria and requirements determined by the corporation pursuant to this section. The corporation shall distribute funds promptly pursuant to a disbursement process agreed to between the corporation and applicant.
4. The young farmer NY fund shall not invest an amount in any single beneficiary that exceeds fifty thousand dollars, subject to any exceptions to be established by rules and regulations of the corporation.
5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the corporation may establish a program fund for program use and pay into such fund any eligible funds available to the corporation from any source, including moneys appropriated by the state.
6. The corporation shall submit a report annually on December thirtyfirst to the director of the budget, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly detailing (a) the total amount of funds committed to each applicant that receives funds and the amount of such funds that has been invested by each such applicant; (b) the amount of young farmers NY and private funds invested in each applicant; (c) the location of each applicant; (d) the number of jobs projected to be created or retained; and (e) such other information as the corporation deems necessary.
7. The corporation is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the state administrative procedure act as are necessary to fulfill the purposes of this section, including with respect to reasonable management fees, promotes, share of return and other fees and charges of applicants that receive funds, and to provide for the repayment of funds received by the beneficiary if the beneficiary leaves New York state within a period of time to be established by the corporation.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that any rules or regulations necessary for the timely implementation of this act on its effective date, may be promulgated on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.