Local agriculture market program

Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (13) as paragraphs (6) through (14), respectively; and (B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) Food hub The term food hub means a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products to multiple buyers from multiple producers, who are primarily local and regional producers, to strengthen the ability of such producers to satisfy local and regional wholesale, retail, and institutional demands.; (2) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting, regional food chain coordination, after collaboration; (3) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking 2023 and inserting 2031; and (B) in paragraph (6)— (i) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by redesignating clauses (vii) and (viii) as clauses (viii) and (ix), respectively; and (II) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: (vii) a food hub;; (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following: (D) Simplified applications (i) In general The Secretary shall establish a simplified application form for eligible entities described in subparagraph (B) that— (I) request less than $100,000; and (II) choose from the project categories described in clause (ii), which shall include a specific, limited set of key activities with predefined requirements established by the Secretary. (ii) Project categories The Secretary shall establish a simplified application form for the following project categories but may include additional project categories as necessary: (I) Direct-to-consumer projects In the case of a direct-to-consumer project, an application form described in clause (i) may be available for the following categories of projects: (aa) An outreach and promotion project. (bb) A project to provide funding for farmers market manager staff time. (cc) A project to provide vendor training. (dd) A planning and design project. (ee) A data collection and evaluation project. (II) Local and regional food markets and enterprise projects In the case of a local and regional food market and enterprise project, an application form described in clause (i) may be available for the following categories of projects: (aa) A food hub feasibility study project. (bb) A project to provide funding for regional food chain coordination staff time. (cc) A project to provide technical assistance. (dd) A data collection and evaluation project. (ee) A project to support the purchase of special purpose equipment.; (4) in subsection (e)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A)— (i) by redesignating clauses (x) and (xi) as clauses (xi) and (xii), respectively; and (ii) by inserting after clause (ix) the following: (x) a food hub;; and (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking 2019 through 2023 and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: “2027 through 2031 to support partnerships— (i) to plan a local or regional food system; (ii) to implement a local or regional food system plan; (iii) to develop and implement a regional chain coordination project; and (iv) to develop and implement a regional outreach, technical assistance, and evaluation project.; (5) in subsection (f)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking subsection (d); or and inserting subsection (d)(5);; (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) are eligible to submit an application in accordance with subsection (d)(6)(D); or; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (3) Stakeholder input In developing the simplified application and reporting process under this subsection, the Secretary shall engage with stakeholders to receive input on how the simplified application and reporting process can be streamlined for eligible entities without affecting program integrity.; (6) in subsection (h)(2), by striking this section and inserting the Agricultural Act of 2026; and (7) in subsection (i)(3)(B)— (A) by striking Of the funds and inserting the following: (i) In general Of the funds; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (ii) Simplified applications Of the funds made available for grants under subsection (d)(6) for a fiscal year, not less than 10 percent, and not more than 50 percent, shall be used to provide grants to eligible entities that submit an application in accordance with subsection (d)(6)(D)..