§ 305. Funding
The ABIC may accept grants of local or federal funds, gifts, devices or conveyances for assistance to agri-businesses and the furtherance of the stated goals and purposes of this chapter.
§ 306. Budget proposal
The Commissioner shall include in the Department’s fiscal year budget proposal non-lapsing funding for the ABIC sufficient to carry out purposes of this chapter.
§ 307. Regulations
The Commissioner shall promulgate regulations for the operation of the ABIC program, including eligibility requirements for participation in the Program and procedures for applying for the Program.
§ 308. Coordination and consultation
The Commissioner shall coordinate the Program and consult with the Small Business Incubator Program established under 11 V.I.C. ch. 23 for guidance in the development and implementation of the Program and to avoid duplication of services.
§ 309. Cooperation
(a) All departments, agencies, authorities and other instrumentalities of the Government shall cooperate with the Commissioner and the ABIC in carrying out their duties and responsibilities under this chapter; carrying out their programs and exercising their functions and promoting agri-businesses in such manner as will, to the maximum extent permitted by other applicable law, assist […]
§ 206. Promotion of hemp research and development
(a) The Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands shall promote the research and development of markets for the Virgin Islands industrial hemp and products after the selection and establishment of the industrial hemp research program and the Industrial Hemp Commission, subject to the availability of adequate funds for these […]
§ 207. The Virgin Islands Industrial Hemp Commission
(a) The Virgin Islands Industrial Hemp Commission is established within the Department of Agriculture and consists of at least nine members as follows: (1) The President of the University of the Virgin Islands or the President’s designee; (2) The chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Planning or its successor: (3) The […]
§ 208. Adoption of federal regulations
The Department shall adopt the federal regulations regarding industrial hemp and any subsequent changes thereto.
§ 301. Definitions
As used in the chapter, the term (1) “ABIC” means the Agriculture Business Incubator Center established in section 302. (2) “Agri-business” means a business engaged in any business listed in section 192 of this title. (3) “Business incubator” means a facility, including the ABIC, that offers: (A) Space for start-up and expanding firms; (B) The […]
§ 302. Established; program
(a) There is established within the Department of Agriculture the ABIC. The purpose of the ABIC is to operate the Program established in subsection (b). (b) The Program is established within the ABIC to provide start-up and operating assistance to qualified agri-business entrepreneurs, including providing assistance with in business planning, marketing agricultural products, obtaining access […]