Establishing a butchery innovation and revitalization fund and program to be administered by the economic development authority, in consultation with the department of agriculture and land stewardship, and creating a task force to explore the feasibility of establishing an artisanal butchery program at a community college or at an institution governed by the state board of regents

This bill establishes a butchery innovation and revitalization fund (fund) and a butchery innovation and revitalization program (program) to be administered by the economic development authority (authority), in consultation with the department of agriculture and land stewardship (department), and creates a task force to explore the feasibility of establishing an artisanal butchery program at a community college or at an institution governed by the state board of regents. The bill creates the fund in the state treasury under the control of the authority, which consists of any moneys appropriated to the fund by the general assembly and any other moneys available to the authority for placement in the fund. The fund must be used to provide financial assistance (assistance) as provided under the program. “Assistance” is defined to include assistance in the form of grants, low-interest loans, and forgivable loans. The authority must use any moneys specifically appropriated for purposes of the program only for the purposes of the program. The appropriated moneys that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year do not revert but remain available for expenditure for the program until the close of the succeeding fiscal year. The authority, in consultation with the department, must establish and administer the program for the purpose of awarding assistance to eligible businesses for projects that expand or refurbish, or that establish a new, state or federally inspected small-scale meat processing business, licensed custom locker, or mobile slaughter unit. An eligible business’s project may also include renting buildings, refrigeration facilities, freezer facilities, mobile slaughter or refrigeration units, or equipment that is necessary to expand the business’s processing capacity. A mobile slaughter unit must operate in compliance with the most current mobile slaughter unit compliance guide issued by the United States department of agriculture food safety and inspection service. The authority, in consultation with the department, must establish eligibility criteria for the program by rule, and the criteria must include the requirements detailed in the bill. A business seeking assistance under the program must make application to the authority in the manner prescribed by the authority by rule. Applications must be accepted during one or more annual application periods determined by the authority by rule. After reviewing and scoring all applications received during an application period, and subject to funding, the authority, in consultation with the department, may award assistance to eligible businesses. A financial assistance award cannot exceed the amount of eligible project costs included in an eligible business’s application. The bill requires that priority be given to eligible businesses whose proposed project will create new jobs; create or expand opportunities for local small-scale farmers to market processed meat under private labels; or provide greater flexibility or convenience for local small-scale farmers to have animals processed. A business that is awarded assistance under the program may apply for assistance under other programs administered by the authority. The authority, in consultation with the department, is required to adopt rules to administer the fund and program. The artisanal butchery program task force is created within the department for the purpose of exploring the feasibility of establishing an artisanal butchery program at a community college or at an institution governed by the state board of regents. Members of the task force are appointed by the secretary of agriculture and must include representatives of various groups and organizations as detailed in the bill. The department must provide the task force with staff and administrative support. The task force must consider staffing and equipment requirements, potential enrollment numbers, overall employment outlook for graduates, apprenticeship and internship opportunities, program costs, curriculum, and regulatory and legal requirements. The bill requires the task force to submit a report by December 31, 2021, to the general assembly that includes the task force’s findings and recommendations.