Senate Bill No. 1110 Summary

• Establishes the "Healthy Food Assistance Act" to increase availability of fresh and nutritious food in underserved communities through financing for grocery store construction, renovation, and expansion.

• Creates a Healthy Food Financing Fund within the state treasury, administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, to provide loans, grants, and forgivable loans to retailers.

• Requires the Department to contract with a Community Development Financial Institution to establish and operate the financing program, with no more than 15% of fund money used for administrative costs.

• Allocates funding for county-based programs through community development financial institutions and nonprofit organizations to provide assistance to small food retailers (under 2,500 square feet) in low- and moderate-income areas.

• Appropriates $6,500,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2015-2016, with up to $5,000,000 for the main financing program and up to $1,000,000 for small retailer assistance programs.