Micro-grants for food security

The purpose of this section is to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations in food insecure communities in areas of the United States that have significant levels of food insecurity and import a significant quantity of food. In this section: The term “eligible entity” means an entity that— is— a nonprofit organization engaged in increasing food security, as determined by the Secretary, including— a federally funded educational facility, including— The term “eligible State” means— The Secretary shall distribute funds to the agricultural department or agency of each eligible State for the competitive distribution of subgrants to eligible entities to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in food insecure communities, including through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations. Of the amount made available under subsection (g), the Secretary shall distribute— Funds distributed under paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended. An eligible State that receives funds under paragraph (1) may use not more than 3 percent of those funds— The amount of a subgrant to an eligible entity under this section shall be— As a condition of receiving a subgrant under this section, an eligible entity shall provide funds equal to 10 percent of the amount received by the eligible entity under the subgrant, to be derived from non-Federal sources. A State may waive the matching requirement for an individual who otherwise meets the requirements to receive a subgrant by the eligible State. Funds received by an eligible entity that is awarded a subgrant under this section shall remain available for expenditure not later than 3 years after the date the funds are received. In carrying out the competitive distribution of subgrants under subsection (c), an eligible State may give priority to an eligible entity that— An eligible State may provide subgrants to 2 or more eligible entities to carry out the same project. An eligible entity that receives a subgrant under this section shall use the funds to engage in activities that will increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food for food insecure individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities, including by— traveling to participate in agricultural education provided by— creating or expanding avenues for— An eligible entity shall not be ineligible to receive financial assistance under another program administered by the Secretary as a result of receiving a subgrant under this section. As a condition of receiving a subgrant under this section, an eligible entity shall agree to submit to the eligible State in which the eligible entity is located a report— Not later than 120 days after the date on which an eligible State receives a report from each eligible entity in that State under paragraph (1), the eligible State shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes, in the aggregate, the information and data contained in the reports received from those eligible entities. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain available until expended. Only funds appropriated under paragraph (1) in advance specifically to carry out this section shall be available to carry out this section.