[OKC] FW: Measure to Provide Incentives to Open Healthy Grocery Stores Passes House

[Shauna Lawyer Struby]

fyi

 

From: Sasha Bradley [mailto:sashabradley at okhouse.gov] 
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 3:32 PM
To: Sasha Bradley
Subject: Measure to Provide Incentives to Open Healthy Grocery Stores Passes
House

 

 



 

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Media Division

March 8, 2010

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: State Rep. Seneca Scott

Capitol: (405) 557-7391

 

Measure to Provide Incentives to Open Healthy Grocery Stores Passes House

 

OKLAHOMA CITY -Oklahomans may soon see more grocery stores thanks to state
Rep. Seneca Scott's legislation to provide incentives to individuals who
open "healthy corner stores".

 

House Bill 3015, by Scott, makes healthy corner stores eligible for
Agricultural Linked Deposit Loan Packages of up to $350,000. "Healthy corner
stores" are defined as those grocery stores certified by the Oklahoma
Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry that market fresh fruits and
vegetables and nutritious foods and for which the sale of beer and tobacco
comprise less than 10 percent of its gross sales (excluding gas and other
non grocery items).

 

 Scott said his bill provides low-interest loan packages to help encourage
individuals to open up grocery stores.

 

"It is a way for both rural and urban communities to gain needed grocery
stores that will provide healthy food in 'food deserts,'" said Scott,
D-Tulsa. "This will also benefit Oklahoma's farmer and ranchers by providing
another outlet to sell fresh produce and products. Many Oklahoma communities
are without local grocery stores and this will give them those outlets while
also providing healthy homegrown food. ."

 

The Oklahoma Agricultural Linked Deposit Program assists participating banks
in lowering their interest rates on loans for qualifying farms and
agricultural-related businesses.  These loans usually have an interest rate
up to 3 percent below the current two-year Oklahoma Treasury rate. 

 

Scott said these significant interest savings are passed onto the borrower
by the bank.

 

House Bill 3015 passed the full House of Representatives on a 95-0 vote
today. It now proceeds to the Senate for a hearing.

 

-30-

 

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