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PR PRESEN SENTER ER, FY Y 2018 FINI GRAN ANT PR PROGRAM AM • Dr. Jane Clary Loveless, National Program Leader, Nutrition/Extension 2
A A Conversa sati tion n with th Practi titi tione ners: s: Lesso ssons ns Le Learn rned from th the SNA NAP Incenti tives Programs “The Findings and Conclusions in this Preliminary Presentation Have Not Been Formally Disseminated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Should Not Be Construed to Represent Any Agency Determination or Policy.” 3
FINI Primary y Goal • FINI GRANT PROGRAM: to support projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase. 4
Fo For FINI Grants: Fruits & Vegetables • NIFA Defines “fruits and vegetables” as any variety of fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e. sodium.). This includes seeds and plants that produce eligible food intended for home preparation or consumption. 5
Examples of FINI Qualifyi ying Fruits and Ve Vegetables • Included, but not limited to: frozen spinach, fresh apples, sundried tomatoes, 100% orange juice, and canned artichoke hearts. • Also, fresh herbs, e.g.., fresh basil, thyme, or mint 6
NI NIFA - Priority y to Projects that: • Maximize share of funds used for direct incentives to participants; • Test innovative or promising strategies that contribute to our understanding of how best to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among SNAP participants; • Develop innovative or improved benefit redemption systems that could be replicated or scaled; • Use direct-to-consumer sales marketing; and • Demonstrate a track record of designing & implementing successful nutrition incentive programs connecting low-income consumers & agricultural producers. 7
NIFA: Priority y to Projects that: (continued) • Provide locally or regionally produced fruits & vegetables, also include any variety of fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e. sodium), & especially culturally appropriate fruits & vegetables for the target audience; and • Located in underserved communities. 8
FI FINI Promotional Ma Materi rials • FINI Grantees may promote or advertise their FINI projects using Federal and or matching funds, using any media, including: TV, radio, and billboards. • Statements must present factual statements intended to inform, not persuade. 9
Th The T Term “ “Incentive” • Means any financial or non-financial inducement that would increase the purchase and consumption of eligible F&V by SNAP clients. • Examples of allowable: vouchers, coupons, and tokens for eligible F & Vs; other SNAP-Eligible items received for having purchased F & Vs; direct point of sale discounts on eligible F & Vs. 10
Th The T Term “ “Incentive” (continued) • Examples of allowable non-financial incentives include, but are not limited to, giveaways of FINI qualifying fruits & vegetables; and nutrition education. • Examples of unallowable incentives include, but are not limited to, giveaways of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and lottery tickets. • Incentives not allowed may not be paid for with either Federal or matching funds. 11
Pr Program Area Description: FINI Pilot Pr Projects (FPP) • Funding level: Not to exceed $100,000 • Period of Performance: project period not to exceed one year. • Program code: FPP • FPPs are aimed at new entrants seeking funding for a project in the early stages of incentive program development. FPPs must have support from the state SNAP agency. 12
FI FINI Project cts s (FI FIP) • Funding level: Not to exceed $500,000 • Period of Performance: project period not to exceed four (4) years • Program code: FIP • Aimed at mid-sized groups developing incentive programs at the local or state level; • Should have established relationships with necessary partners & collaborators ;and • Must have the support of the state SNAP agency. 13
FI FINI Large Sc Scale Project cts s (FL FLSP SP) • Funding level: Awards of $500,000 or greater • Period of Performance: project period is not to exceed four (4) years • Program code: FLSP • Aimed at mid to large sized groups developing incentive programs at the local or state level; • Should have established relationships with necessary partners & collaborators; and • Must have the support of the state SNAP agency. 14
FI FINI Eligible Applicants Examples Examples Examples Examples Government See pages 19 & agencies eligible 20 in the RFA for full detail Emergency Agricultural Producer Community Feeding Cooperative network or Health Organization association Organization Non-Profit Public benefit Economic Farmer’s Community organization(s) corporation development Market Supported eligible corporation Agriculture A buying club A SNAP- State, Local, or authorized tribal agency retailer 15
FI FINI Part rtners s & Collaborators • Only the applicant must meet the requirements mentioned earlier for grant eligibility. Project partners and collaborators need not meet the eligibility requirements. 16
FI FINI Awardees • Congress provided $100 million over 5 years to fund grants and to support administration, monitoring, and to support evaluation activities. • FINI is a joint program between NIFA and FNS. FNS has the contract with Westat to support the independent evaluation, which includes the FINI medium and large scale projects. • Currently, the independent evaluation includes the project years 2015, 2016, and 2017 awarded to 47 grantee organizations. 17
FINI Retailers: FI s: • 2015, 2016, & 2017 grantees operate in most regions of the country, other than the upper Midwest and Texas. • 45 large-scale and community-based grantees operate FINI at retailers in 38 States and the District of Columbia. • The largest concentrations are in California (336), Massachusetts (291) and Michigan (288). 18
FINI Program Charact FI cteri ristics cs • Eighty percent of the grantees implement FINI at farmers markets (31 of 39) and about half (21 of 39) implemented FINI at grocery stores. Roughly two-thirds (29) of FINI grantees implemented the FINI program at two or more retailer types. • Over 75 percent of grantees had experience operating SNAP-based incentive programs prior to FINI. One-third of retailers operating FINI had prior incentive experience. 19
FINI Summary y • FINI represents a cost effective opportunity to address food insecurity, improve nutrition, and create economic benefits for small and medium farmers. • For example: Market Match in California, found 84% of farmers sell more fruits and vegetables, 65% see more customers, and 74% made more money from sales. • It means farmers bring dollars back to some of the most high-need rural communities. 20
FN FNS- Con Contacts • Eric Williams, Evaluation Questions, • Eric.Williams@fns.usda.gov • Marchello Middlebrooks, SNAP Policy Questions, • Marchello.Middlebrooks@fns.usda.gov and Daniel Cline, Daniel.Cline@fns.usda.gov FN FNS- Policy y & Evaluation Any questions you may have on SNAP policy and/or evaluation please contact: FINI@fns.usda.gov 21
NI NIFA FINI NI Program Contacts ts - • Dr. Jane Clary Loveless, National Program Leader, Nutrition/Extension • 202-720-3891 • jclary@nifa.usda.gov • Dr. Pascale Jean, Program Specialist • 202-720-6079 • Pascale.Jean@nifa.usda.gov
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