The Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act creates a new tax credit and grant program to encourage investment in grocery stores, food banks, and mobile markets in underserved areas lacking adequate access to fresh food, known as food deserts. Grocery stores and food bank operators that meet certification requirements can receive tax credits covering up to 15 percent of construction costs or 10 percent of renovation expenses, while temporary food vendors like farmers markets and mobile markets can receive grants covering up to 10 percent of annual operating costs for up to 10 years. The bill defines food deserts based on distance to grocery stores and income levels, with stricter criteria in rural areas (10+ miles from a store) than urban areas (1+ mile), and requires applicants to meet existing standards from the USDA's Healthy Food Financing Initiative. The legislation authorizes necessary funding and requires the USDA to update its Food Access Research Atlas annually to track newly opened food retailers, with both the Treasury and Agriculture departments sharing administrative oversight and discretion to issue regulations preventing program abuse.
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