Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act

This bill sets up a new tax credit and grant program to bring more healthy food options to communities in food deserts. It helps open or improve grocery stores, food banks, farmers markets, and mobile markets in these areas.

It offers a tax credit worth up to 15% of qualified costs to build a new grocery store, or 10% of renovation costs. It also provides grants equal to 15% of construction costs for permanent food banks, and 10% of annual operating costs for mobile markets and farmers markets. Grants are paid within 60 days and are not taxed as income.

• Who can qualify

  • Businesses and nonprofits that get certified for this program. Grocery stores must be in a food desert and meet federal standards; a grocery store is one where groceries are at least 35% of sales .
  • Permanent food banks must be in a food desert. Farmers markets and other mobile sellers must regularly sell in food deserts (farmers markets at least 10 hours per week; others at least 5 days and 50 hours per week).

• Limits and fairness

  • Farmers markets can’t use this program while getting most other USDA grants, except a specific nutrition incentive program. Rules must also ensure rural areas get a fair share of funding. Grants for mobile sellers can continue each year for up to 10 years. If the rules aren’t met later, the government can claw back the benefit.