Minnesota Agencies

This committee advises the commissioner of agriculture on managing the Good Food Access Program including establishing, 1) program criteria, 2) project eligibility guidelines, 3) application processes and additional selection criteria, and 4) annual monitoring and accountability mechanisms; and facilitating leveraging of additional public and private investments and promoting the program statewide.

Established by legislation passed in 2016, the Good Food Access Program's purpose is to increase the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, for underserved communities in low-income and moderate-income areas by providing financial support and sustainable public-private projects to open, renovate, or expand the operations of grocery stores and small food retailers; expanding access to credit and reducing barriers to investment in underserved communities in low- and moderate-income areas; and to provide technical assistance, primarily for small food retailers with demonstrated need. The legislation also created the Good Food Access Account in the Agricultural Fund.

The commissioner of agriculture, in cooperation with the Good Food Access Program Advisory Committee, shall manage the program, establish program criteria, facilitate leveraging of additional public and private investment, promote the program statewide, and shall establish annual monitoring and accountability mechanisms for all projects receiving financing or other financial or technical assistance through this program.

The committee does not expire.

The Good Food Access Program Advisory Committee consists of the following members, appointed by the commissioner of agriculture, unless otherwise specified: the commissioners of health, employment and economic development, and human services, or their respective designees; one person representing the grocery industry; two people representing economic or community development, one rural member and one urban or suburban member; two people representing political subdivisions of the state; one person designated by the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage; one person designated by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council; one person designated by the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans; one person designated by the Chicano Latino Affairs Council; one person designated by the Minnesota Farmers Union; one person representing public health experts; one person representing philanthropic foundations; one person representing economic or community development financial institutions; one person representing the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships; two people representing organizations engaged in addressing food security, one representative from a statewide hunger relief organization and one from a community-based organization; one person representing immigrant farmer-led organizations; one person representing small business technical assistance with experience in food retail; and up to four additional members with economic development, health equity, financial, or other relevant expertise.

At least half of the members must reside in or their organizations must serve rural Minnesota. The commissioner may remove members and fill vacancies as provided in Minnesota Statute 15.059, subdivision 4.