MDARD - Increasing Access to Healthy Foods: Michigan's New Property Tax Incentive for Retail Food Establishments (Public Act 231 of 2008)

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Increasing Access to Healthy Foods: Michigan's New Property Tax Incentive for Retail Food Establishments (Public Act 231 of 2008)

Access to affordable, quality and healthy food promotes community health and reduces risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Many Michigan communities, particularly low-income urban and rural areas, have limited access to retail food establishments that offer healthy food options. To address this issue, Senate Bill 294 (PA 231 of 2008) was passed into law and signed by Governor Granholm on July 17, 2008. PA 231 amends the Commercial Rehabilitation Act to allow retail food establishments to qualify for the property tax incentive. Qualified retail food establishments that expand, improve or open in underserved areas may request that those improvements not be taxed for up to 10 years. This legislation was supported by the Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan Initiative, as well as many other organizations/initiatives throughout the state, as it moved through the Michigan Legislature.