Section 262. State aid for farmers' markets

1. There is hereby created
  within the department a program of grants for the purpose  of  providing
  state  assistance  for  farmer's markets. In administering such program,
  the commissioner, to the extent  feasible,  shall  ensure  an  equitable
  distribution  of  awards  to  rural  areas and other areas of the state.
  State assistance provided pursuant to this section may be awarded for:
    (a)  the  construction,  reconstruction,  improvement,  expansion   or
  rehabilitation  of  farmers'  markets.  Grants provided pursuant to this
  paragraph shall not exceed the lesser of fifty percent of  project  cost
  or fifty thousand dollars per project in any fiscal year.
    (b) the purpose of providing promotional support for farmer's markets.
  Grants  provided  pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed the lesser
  of fifty percent of project cost or five thousand dollars per  applicant
  in any fiscal year.
    2.  Any  municipal  corporation,  regional  market  authority,  public
  benefit  corporation,   not-for-profit   corporation   or   agricultural
  cooperative  organized pursuant to the cooperative corporations law, may
  submit  an  application  for  state  assistance  for  the  construction,
  reconstruction,  improvement,  expansion or rehabilitation of a farmers'
  market under their  control  including  assistance  for  engineering  or
  architectural  designs  for  new  or  reconstructed  facilities, and for
  providing promotional support for farmers' markets.
    3. The commissioner may approve or  disapprove  any  application  made
  pursuant  to  this  section,  and  shall  consider  the following in his
  decision:
    a. the relative impact of the proposed farmers' market project on  the
  economy of the area to be served;
    b.  the  anticipated level of municipal and local participation in the
  project;
    c. the extent to which New York farmers  would  benefit,  through  the
  direct sale of farm and food products;
    d.  the  geographic  distribution  of  monies  appropriated  for state
  assistance for farmers' markets; and
    e. the anticipated quantity of non-farm jobs which  would  be  created
  and retained due to the proposed project.
    4. In administering the provisions of this section, the commissioner:
    a.  may  in  the  name  of  the  state,  contract  to make, within the
  limitations  of  appropriations   available   therefor,   state   grants
  representing the state share of the costs of projects approved and to be
  undertaken pursuant to this section;
    b. shall examine vouchers for the payment of assistance pursuant to an
  approved  contract  and  shall  forward  approved  vouchers to the state
  comptroller. All such payments shall be paid on the audit and warrant of
  the state comptroller; and
    c. may perform such other and further acts and promulgate  such  rules
  and  regulations  as  may be necessary, proper or desirable to carry out
  the provisions of this section.