SB 37 (Stanley), the Virginia Grocery Investment Fund and Program bill, has been docketed to be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, January 24. As highlighted in the January 15 Capitol Contact, SB 37 seeks to leverage public-private partnerships and provide funding for grocery stores, small food retailers, and innovative food retail projects in underserved communities.
The proposed 2019-2020 budget contains $7.5 million for the Fund. Program developers and advocates estimate that the state’s $7.5 million investment will generate up to $30 million in private investment and will ultimately affect 1.7 million Virginians (including 480,000 children) who currently live in lower income communities with limited supermarket access.
The House companion bill, HB 85 (Bell, Richard), has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee but has not yet been docketed.
VACo Members – Contact your Senate Finance Committee legislators to SUPPORT SB 37. VACo plans to express its support of SB 37 on the floor tomorrow.
VACo Contact: Chris McDonald, Esq.