The USDA?s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) awarded nearly $53 million across eight grant programs to state and local agencies to enhance the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
A USDA press release says these grants ? which were released throughout August and September — will help ensure program operators and partners have the resources, support, and capacity to deliver SNAP benefits efficiently and effectively. USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Associate Administrator Jessica Shahin provides examples among eight grants designed to improve administration, efficiencies and program integrity within SNAP.
AUDIO: USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Associate Administrator Jessica Shahin
?The process and technology improvement grant is almost $5 million that was awarded to seven state agencies and non-profits to enhance the user experience applying for SNAP and receiving notifications about what?s needed to complete that application,? said Shahin. ?It also strengthens the ability to do the work in a situation like the pandemic. We?re particularly excited about improving access to healthy fruits and vegetables for SNAP households. We?re doing that through the SNAP online purchasing participation assistance for farmers and farmers markets. This grant will actually be working to facilitate a platform for online payment for SNAP at farmers markets.?
FNS is committed to supporting and enhancing the administration and effectiveness of SNAP to best serve the more than 42.3 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits to afford food for themselves and their families.
To learn more, visit www.fns.usda.gov.
