[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 62 (Thursday, May 12, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5073-S5075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JEFFORDS:
  S. 1011. A bill to establish a national historic country store 
preservation program; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I have long been a proponent of measures 
that support historic preservation and economic development, and it is 
in keeping with that tradition that I rise today to introduce the 
National Historic Country Store Preservation Act of 2005.
  This bill establishes a national program to support historic country 
store preservation that will aid in the revitalization of rural 
villages and community centers nationwide.
  For many Americans, the country store invokes an image of a simpler 
life before much of this country became stamped with shopping malls and 
the ``big-box'' store.
  But for thousands of people living in Vermont and for millions more 
living in rural communities across the United States, a visit to the 
local country store is a regular part of one's daily life.
  They are centers of commercial activity in the towns they serve and 
embody the core of American small business entrepreneurship.
  Many of these vital small businesses have been passed down among 
family members for generations. They are operated in buildings that 
have existed for as long as 150 years.
  In fact, by one of the more vigorous standards in Vermont, a country 
store is only considered historic if it was built before the Winooski 
River Flood of 1927.
  In my hometown of Shrewsbury, VT, the Pierce Store was the hub of our 
small community when my wife Liz and I settled there in 1963.
  Run by the four Pierce siblings, Marjorie, Glendon, Marion and 
Gordon, the store was the place to go for a neighborly chat as much as 
for your milk and butter.
  Children would get off the bus to buy their penny candy. Glendon 
Pierce could tell a great tale, and the political banter was endless.
  With its antique cash register and woodstove, this was the 
quintessential general store.
  Unfortunately, the Pierce Store closed its doors some years back and 
Shrewsbury lost a vital part of its identity.
  There has been a recent attempt to revive the store, and I hope, for 
the sake of my community, it proves successful.
  Despite their small relative size and market share, historic country 
stores have demonstrated incredible resiliency, surviving floods and 
fires, overcoming economic downturns, and reformulating their 
inventories to meet modern needs.
  According to the Vermont Grocers' Association, country stores account 
for an estimated $55 million annually in retail sales in Vermont.
  Nonetheless, competition from larger chain stores continues to 
increase.
  When coupled with the additional cost and expertise required to 
maintain their aging structures and external facades, today's remaining 
country stores are hard-pressed to overcome these unprecedented 
challenges.
  In Vermont, a handful of historic country stores close each year and 
the cumulative impact of those losses is experienced throughout the 
State.
  The National Trust for Historic Preservation has listed the entire 
State of Vermont among America's ``Eleven Most Endangered Places,''
  That is due to the threat that large-scale development poses to 
Vermont's small, independent retailers.
  Yet country stores remain fixtures of Vermont's landscape. The 
Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores estimates that more than 
115 historic country stores are scattered about the State.
  Across the country, thousands of these establishments help to define 
the character of rural life.
  These country stores draw local customers and tourists alike, 
offering convenient access to newspapers, groceries and local specialty 
foods in a typically neighborly atmosphere.
  Many stores also double as local post offices or outdoor camping and 
home hardware goods suppliers. It is not unusual, and highly 
recommended, that customers buy a fresh whole wedge of cheddar cheese 
from a 38-pound wheel next to the cash register.
  Fathers can buy earthworms and tackle and take their daughters to the 
nearby fishing hole for an afternoon excursion.
  The National Historic Country Store Preservation Act of 2005 is 
designed to build upon the momentum that country store preservation 
work has generated in Vermont and to gather useful models and 
information to develop a program that supports historic, rural country 
stores nationwide.
  My legislation authorizes the U.S. Economic Development 
Administration to make grants to national, State

[[Page S5074]]

and local agencies and non-profit organizations to support historic 
country store preservation efforts.
  The bill promotes the study of best practices for preserving 
structures, improving profitability and promoting collaboration among 
country store proprietors.
  In addition, the bill establishes a revolving loan fund. The fund 
will be used for research and restoration work.
  It will be used to improve our understanding of existing needs and 
provide the assistance required to address them.
  This bill seeks to sustain America's rural heritage by uniting small 
business development and historic preservation.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in my efforts to protect our 
Nation's historic country stores and revitalize our rural communities.
  I ask that a summary of the legislation be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1011

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Historic Country 
     Store Preservation Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) historic country stores are lasting icons of rural 
     tradition in the United States;
       (2) historic country stores are valuable contributors to 
     the civic and economic vitality of their local communities;
       (3) historic country stores demonstrate innovative 
     approaches to historic preservation and small business 
     practices;
       (4) historic country stores are threatened by larger 
     competitors and the costs associated with maintaining older 
     structures; and
       (5) the United States should--
       (A) collect and disseminate information concerning the 
     number, condition, and variety of historic country stores;
       (B) develop opportunities for cooperation among proprietors 
     of historic country stores; and
       (C) promote the long-term economic viability of historic 
     country stores.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Country store.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``country store'' means a 
     structure independently owned and formerly or currently 
     operated as a business that--
       (i) sells or sold grocery items and other small retail 
     goods; and
       (ii) is located in a nonmetropolitan area, as defined by 
     the Secretary.
       (B) Inclusion.--The term ``country store'' includes a 
     cooperative.
       (2) Eligible applicant.--The term ``eligible applicant'' 
     means--
       (A) a State department of commerce or economic development;
       (B) a national or State nonprofit organization that--
       (i) is described in section 501(c)(3), and exempt from 
     Federal tax under section 501(a), of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986; and
       (ii) has experience or expertise, as determined by the 
     Secretary, in the identification, evaluation, rehabilitation, 
     or preservation of historic country stores;
       (C) a national or State nonprofit trade organization that--
       (i) is described in section 501(c)(3), and exempt from 
     Federal tax under section 501(a), of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986; and
       (ii) acts as a cooperative to promote and enhance country 
     stores; and
       (D) a State historic preservation office.
       (3) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Historic Country 
     Store Revolving Loan Fund established by section 5(a).
       (4) Historic country store.--The term ``historic country 
     store'' means a country store that--
       (A) has operated at the same location for at least 50 
     years; and
       (B) retains sufficient integrity of design, materials, and 
     construction to clearly identify the structure as a country 
     store.
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary for 
     Economic Development.

     SEC. 4. HISTORIC COUNTRY STORE PRESERVATION PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
     historic country store preservation program--
       (1) to collect and disseminate information on historic 
     country stores;
       (2) to promote State and regional partnerships among 
     proprietors of historic country stores; and
       (3) to sponsor and conduct research on--
       (A) the economic impact of historic country stores;
       (B) best practices to--
       (i) improve the profitability of historic country stores; 
     and
       (ii) protect historic country stores from foreclosure or 
     seizure; and
       (C) best practices for developing cooperative organizations 
     that address the economic and historic preservation needs of 
     historic country stores.
       (b) Grants.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants to, or enter 
     into contracts or cooperative agreements with, eligible 
     applicants to carry out an eligible project under paragraph 
     (2).
       (2) Eligible projects.--A grant under this subsection may 
     be made to an eligible entity for a project--
       (A) to rehabilitate or repair a historic country store;
       (B) to identify, document, and conduct research on historic 
     country stores; and
       (C) to develop and evaluate appropriate techniques or best 
     practices for protecting historic country stores.
       (3) Requirements.--An eligible applicant that receives a 
     grant for an eligible project under paragraph (1) shall 
     comply with all applicable requirements for historic 
     preservation projects under Federal, State, and local law.
       (c) Country Store Alliance Pilot Project.--The Secretary 
     shall carry out a pilot project in the State of Vermont under 
     which the Secretary shall conduct demonstration activities to 
     preserve historic country stores, including--
       (1) the collection and dissemination of information on 
     historic country stores in the State;
       (2) the development of collaborative country store 
     marketing and purchasing techniques; and
       (3) the development of best practices for historic country 
     store proprietors and communities facing transitions involved 
     in the sale or closure of a historic country store.

     SEC. 5. HISTORIC COUNTRY STORE REVOLVING LOAN FUND.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of 
     the United States a revolving fund, to be known as the 
     ``Historic Country Store Revolving Loan Fund'', consisting 
     of--
       (1) such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under 
     subsection (b);
       (2) \1/3\ of the amounts appropriated under section 7(a); 
     and
       (3) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the 
     Fund under subsection (d).
       (b) Transfers to Fund.--There are appropriated to the Fund 
     amounts equivalent to--
       (1) the amounts repaid on loans under section 6; and
       (2) the amounts of the proceeds from the sales of notes, 
     bonds, obligations, liens, mortgages and property delivered 
     or assigned to the Secretary pursuant to loans made under 
     section 6.
       (c) Expenditures From Fund.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), on request by 
     the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer 
     from the Fund to the Secretary such amounts as the Secretary 
     determines are necessary to provide loans under section 6.
       (2) Administrative expenses.--An amount not exceeding 10 
     percent of the amounts in the Fund shall be available for 
     each fiscal year to pay the administrative expenses necessary 
     to carry out this Act.
       (d) Investment of Amounts.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest 
     such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the 
     Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet current 
     withdrawals.
       (2) Interest-bearing obligations.--Investments may be made 
     only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.
       (3) Acquisition of obligations.--For the purpose of 
     investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be 
     acquired--
       (A) on original issue at the issue price; or
       (B) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the market 
     price.
       (4) Sale of obligations.--Any obligation acquired by the 
     Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the 
     market price.
       (5) Credits to fund.--The interest on, and the proceeds 
     from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the 
     Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund.
       (e) Transfers of Amounts.--
       (1) In general.--The amounts required to be transferred to 
     the Fund under this section shall be transferred at least 
     monthly from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund on 
     the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the Treasury.
       (2) Adjustments.--Proper adjustment shall be made in 
     amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior 
     estimates were in excess of or less than the amounts required 
     to be transferred.

     SEC. 6. LOANS FOR HISTORIC COUNTRY STORE REHABILITATION OR 
                   REPAIR PROJECTS.

       (a) In General.--Using amounts in the Fund, the Secretary 
     may make loans to historic country store proprietors and 
     eligible applicants for projects to purchase, rehabilitate, 
     or repair historic country stores.
       (b) Applications.--
       (1) In general.--To be eligible for a loan under this 
     section, a country store proprietor or eligible applicant 
     shall submit to the Secretary an application for a loan.
       (2) Considerations for approval or disapproval.--In 
     determining whether to approve or disapprove an application 
     for a loan submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
     consider--
       (A) the demonstrated need for the purchase, construction, 
     reconstruction, or renovation of the historic country store 
     based on the condition of the historic country store;

[[Page S5075]]

       (B) the age of the historic country store; and
       (C) the extent to which the project to purchase, 
     rehabilitate, or repair the historic country store includes 
     collaboration among historic country store proprietors and 
     other eligible applicants.
       (c) Requirements.--An eligible applicant that receives a 
     loan for a project under this section shall comply with all 
     applicable standards for historic preservation projects under 
     Federal, State, and local law.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act, $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
     years 2006 through 2011, to remain available until expended.
       (b) Country Store Alliance Pilot Project.--Of the amount 
     made available under subsection (a), not less than $250,000 
     shall be made available to carry out section 4(c).

                   Senator James M. Jeffords Summary


 national historic country store preservation act of 2005--may 12, 2005

       The National Historic Country Store Preservation Act of 
     2005 authorizes the Secretary of the Economic Development 
     Administration to establish a National Historic Country Store 
     Preservation Program. This program will sponsor and conduct 
     research on the economic impact of historic country stores 
     and on best practices for improving profitability and 
     addressing their historic preservation and small business 
     development needs. The National Historic Country Store 
     Preservation Program will offer small grants and revolving 
     loans to State and local agencies, non-profit organizations, 
     and historic country store proprietors for the purpose of 
     historic country store preservation projects. In addition, 
     the bill authorizes a Country Store Alliance Pilot Project to 
     be conducted in Vermont. The bill authorizes $50 million to 
     be appropriated for the period of fiscal years 2006 through 
     2010.
                                 ______