§ 3-5-902 - Purpose of incentives.
3-5-902. Purpose of incentives.
Through the passage of this subchapter, the General Assembly establishes a financial incentive in the forms of grant payments as authorized in this subchapter for the encouragement of growing of grapes and other fruits used in the production of wine in this state to:
(1) Reduce unemployment and provide new and expanded job opportunities for the people of this state;
(2) Provide expanded markets for grapes, fruits, berries, or vegetables produced in Arkansas thereby providing increased opportunities for the use of productive lands in this state and to stimulate the agricultural economy of this state;
(3) Attract other industries to this state;
(4) Provide stability to the marketing of grapes used in the wine industries of this state thereby providing financial relief to the owners of hundreds of acres of vineyards that have been totally or severely damaged due to extreme drought and freezing conditions resulting from unseasonal weather and climatic changes that are not typical of the climate of this state;
(5) Provide relief to Arkansas wineries which must compete with products imported from foreign countries whose producers are receiving direct government subsidies which enable those producers to sell their products in this country at subsidized prices which gives them a competitive advantage over domestically produced wines, which is destructive of the domestic wine industry and agricultural and employment opportunities of persons who are dependent upon the wine industry for their support; and
(6) Provide relief to the financial community of this state which made investments and loans supporting the growers of grapes, fruits, berries, or vegetables used in the wine industry to provide stability to the marketing of such products thereby enabling the growers to overcome losses suffered due to extreme weather conditions, and as an incentive for additional investments necessary for increased production of such agricultural products in this state.