{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/36-156.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/36-156.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/36-156.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/36-156.5.html"}],"law_id":360641,"edition_id":2,"section_id":360641,"structure_id":51585,"section_number":"36-156.5","catch_line":"Selection of CDFI; Program requirements; guidelines for management of the Fund","history":"2020, cc. 956, 957.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Department shall establish a Program to provide grants funding the construction, rehabilitation, equipment upgrades, or expansion of grocery stores, small food retailers, or innovative food retail projects in underserved communities. The Department shall select and work in collaboration with a CDFI to assist in administering the Program and carrying out the purposes of the Fund. The CDFI selected by the Department shall have (i) a statewide presence in Virginia, (ii) experience in food-based lending, (iii) a proven track record of leveraging private and philanthropic funding, and (iv) the capability to dedicate sufficient staff to manage the Program. Working with the selected CDFI, the Department shall establish monitoring and accountability mechanisms for projects receiving funding and shall report annually the number of projects funded; the geographic distribution of the projects; the costs of the Program; and the outcomes, including the number and type of jobs created, and health initiatives associated with the Program.\n\nB\n\nThe Program shall:\n\n1\n\nIdentify food access projects that include grocery stores, small food retailers, and innovative food retail projects;\n\n2\n\nProvide grants for the purposes described in subsection A;\n\n3\n\nRequire that grant recipients (i) accept expenditures of benefits provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program in accordance with the federal Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.) and (ii) participate in a program that matches or supplements the benefits identified in clause (i), such as Virginia Fresh Match;\n\n4\n\nProvide technical assistance; and\n\n5\n\nBring together community partners to sustain the Program.\n\nC\n\nThe Department shall develop guidelines to carry out the Program to meet the intent of the Fund. Up to 10 percent of the moneys in the Fund may be designated for the CDFI’s administrative and operations costs to assist in administering and managing the Program, unless those costs are provided for in other budgets or in-kind resources.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1341986,"text":"The Department shall establish a Program to provide grants funding the construction, rehabilitation, equipment upgrades, or expansion of grocery stores, small food retailers, or innovative food retail projects in underserved communities. The Department shall select and work in collaboration with a CDFI to assist in administering the Program and carrying out the purposes of the Fund. The CDFI selected by the Department shall have (i) a statewide presence in Virginia, (ii) experience in food-based lending, (iii) a proven track record of leveraging private and philanthropic funding, and (iv) the capability to dedicate sufficient staff to manage the Program. Working with the selected CDFI, the Department shall establish monitoring and accountability mechanisms for projects receiving funding and shall report annually the number of projects funded; the geographic distribution of the projects; the costs of the Program; and the outcomes, including the number and type of jobs created, and health initiatives associated with the Program.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1341987,"text":"The Program shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":1341988,"text":"Identify food access projects that include grocery stores, small food retailers, and innovative food retail projects;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":1341989,"text":"Provide grants for the purposes described in subsection A;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":1341990,"text":"Require that grant recipients (i) accept expenditures of benefits provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program in accordance with the federal Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.) and (ii) participate in a program that matches or supplements the benefits identified in clause (i), such as Virginia Fresh Match;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":1341991,"text":"Provide technical assistance; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":1341992,"text":"Bring together community partners to sustain the Program.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"C"},"7":{"id":1341993,"text":"The Department shall develop guidelines to carry out the Program to meet the intent of the Fund. Up to 10 percent of the moneys in the Fund may be designated for the CDFI’s administrative and operations costs to assist in administering and managing the Program, unless those costs are provided for in other budgets or in-kind resources.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B5"}},"ancestry":[{"id":51585,"edition_id":2,"name":"Virginia Food Access Investment Program and Fund","identifier":"10.2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":10,"parent_id":51572,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:44:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:44","permalink":{"id":1435837,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51585,"identifier":"10.2","token":"36\/10.2","url":"\/36\/10.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51572,"edition_id":2,"name":"Housing","identifier":"36","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":83,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":336,"child_structures":35},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:44:20","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:40","permalink":{"id":1435259,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51572,"identifier":"36","token":"36","url":"\/36\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":360639,"structure_id":51585,"section_number":"36-156.3","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/36-156.3\/","token":"36\/10.2\/36-156.3","metadata":false},{"id":360640,"structure_id":51585,"section_number":"36-156.4","catch_line":"Virginia Food Access Investment Fund","url":"\/36-156.4\/","token":"36\/10.2\/36-156.4","metadata":false},{"id":360641,"structure_id":51585,"section_number":"36-156.5","catch_line":"Selection of CDFI; Program requirements; guidelines for management of the Fund","url":"\/36-156.5\/","token":"36\/10.2\/36-156.5","metadata":false},{"id":360642,"structure_id":51585,"section_number":"36-156.6","catch_line":"Annual reports","url":"\/36-156.6\/","token":"36\/10.2\/36-156.6","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":360640,"structure_id":51585,"section_number":"36-156.4","catch_line":"Virginia Food Access Investment Fund","url":"\/36-156.4\/","token":"36\/10.2\/36-156.4","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":360642,"structure_id":51585,"section_number":"36-156.6","catch_line":"Annual reports","url":"\/36-156.6\/","token":"36\/10.2\/36-156.6","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/36-156.5\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 956<\/a> and 957<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1435847,"object_type":"law","relational_id":360641,"identifier":"36-156.5","token":"36\/10.2\/36-156.5","url":"\/36-156.5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/36-156.5\/","token":"36\/10.2\/36-156.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Selection of CDFI; Program requirements; guidelines for management of the Fund","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 36-156.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall establish a Program<\/span> to provide grants funding<\/span> the construction, rehabilitation, equipment upgrades, or expansion of grocery stores<\/span>, small food retailers, or innovative food retail projects<\/span> in underserved communities. The Department<\/span> shall select and work in collaboration with a CDFI<\/span> to assist in administering the Program<\/span> and carrying out the purposes of the Fund<\/span>. The CDFI<\/span> selected by the Department<\/span> shall have (i) a statewide presence in Virginia, (ii) experience in food-based lending, (iii) a proven track record of leveraging private and philanthropic funding<\/span>, and (iv) the capability to dedicate sufficient staff to manage the Program<\/span>. Working with the selected CDFI<\/span>, the Department<\/span> shall establish monitoring and accountability mechanisms for projects receiving funding<\/span> and shall report annually the number of projects funded; the geographic distribution of the projects; the costs of the Program<\/span>; and the outcomes, including the number and type of jobs created, and health initiatives associated with the Program<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Program<\/span> shall: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Identify food access projects that include grocery stores<\/span>, small food retailers, and innovative food retail projects<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Provide grants for the purposes described in subsection A; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Require that grant recipients (i) accept expenditures of benefits provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program<\/span> in accordance with the federal Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.) and (ii) participate in a program<\/span> that matches or supplements the benefits identified in clause (i), such as Virginia Fresh Match; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Provide technical assistance; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Bring together community partners to sustain<\/span> the Program<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall develop guidelines to carry out the Program<\/span> to meet the intent<\/span> of the Fund<\/span>. Up to 10 percent of the moneys in the Fund<\/span> may be designated for the CDFI<\/span>’s administrative and operations costs to assist in administering and managing the Program<\/span>, unless those costs are provided for in other budgets or in-kind resources. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSELECTION OF CDFI; PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND\n(\u00a7 36-156.5)\n\nA. The Department shall establish a Program to provide grants funding the\nconstruction, rehabilitation, equipment upgrades, or expansion of grocery\nstores, small food retailers, or innovative food retail projects in underserved\ncommunities. The Department shall select and work in collaboration with a CDFI\nto assist in administering the Program and carrying out the purposes of the\nFund. The CDFI selected by the Department shall have (i) a statewide presence in\nVirginia, (ii) experience in food-based lending, (iii) a proven track record of\nleveraging private and philanthropic funding, and (iv) the capability to\ndedicate sufficient staff to manage the Program. Working with the selected CDFI,\nthe Department shall establish monitoring and accountability mechanisms for\nprojects receiving funding and shall report annually the number of projects\nfunded; the geographic distribution of the projects; the costs of the Program;\nand the outcomes, including the number and type of jobs created, and health\ninitiatives associated with the Program.\n\nB. The Program shall:\n\n 1. Identify food access projects that include grocery stores, small food\n retailers, and innovative food retail projects;\n\n 2. Provide grants for the purposes described in subsection A;\n\n 3. Require that grant recipients (i) accept expenditures of benefits provided\n under the supplemental nutrition assistance program in accordance with the\n federal Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.) and (ii) participate in\n a program that matches or supplements the benefits identified in clause (i),\n such as Virginia Fresh Match;\n\n 4. Provide technical assistance; and\n\n 5. Bring together community partners to sustain the Program.\n\nC. The Department shall develop guidelines to carry out the Program to meet the\nintent of the Fund. Up to 10 percent of the moneys in the Fund may be designated\nfor the CDFI’s administrative and operations costs to assist in\nadministering and managing the Program, unless those costs are provided for in\nother budgets or in-kind resources.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, cc. 956, 957.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}