USDA Awards Grants to Improve SNAP Processing and Enhance Employment and Training Programs

Washington, DC, September 26, 2014 - Agriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced $5 million in grants to streamline processing, improve technology, and strengthen employment and training programs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The competitively-awarded grants will fund 11 projects in seven states, improving efficiency in local SNAP programs.

“Projects funded by these grants will improve access for eligible families in need of nutrition assistance,” Concannon said. “Some of these projects will focus on improving access to SNAP Employment and Training programs, which help people get back into the workforce, achieve self-sufficiency, and build a stronger future for their families.”

Grantees will find ways to improve operations and increase efficiency within local SNAP offices in order to simplify the process for SNAP households. These initiatives will use new technologies or examine office procedures and shorten application processing times for initial applications or re-certifications. For example, Suffolk County, N.Y., will use its grant funds to bring touch screen computers and high speed scanners to each of its four service centers, providing a way for SNAP households to quickly and securely submit applications and verification documents.

Projects with a targeted focus on increasing the effectiveness of employment and training activities, which equip work-ready adults in SNAP households with the skills they need to find and retain good jobs. For example, with this grant award the County of San Diego will create a website with an online learning component to enhance its current employment and training program. They will also use technology to improve access for SNAP recipients and facilitate communication with potential employers.

The Process and Technology Improvement Grants target state agencies, community- or faith-based organizations, public health or educational entities, and food banks. The grantees and awards for FY 2014 include:

• Monroe County Department of Human Resources (N.Y.) - $6,682
• Florida Department of Children and Families, Economic Self-Sufficiency (Fla.) - $150,757
• Oklahoma Department of Human Resources (Okla.) - $1,415,712
• Oregon Department of Human Services (Ore.) - $646,000
• City of New Human Resources Administration Department of Social Services (N.Y.) - $720,239
• Steuben County Department of Social Services (N.Y.) - $20,692
• County of Suffolk (N.Y.) - $175,000
• County of San Diego (Calif.) - $1,000,000
• Erie County Department of Social Services (N.Y.) – $41,609
• State of Connecticut Department of Social Services (Conn.) - $75,100
• Jackson Medical Mall Foundation’s Community Development Corporation (Miss.) - $748,209

For more information on the projects, please visit the SNAP program improvement website.

SNAP - the nation's first line of defense against hunger - helps put food on the table for millions of low income families and individuals every month. As the largest of USDA's 15 nutrition assistance programs, SNAP has never been more critical to the fight against hunger. SNAP is a vital supplement to the monthly food budget of more than 46 million low-income individuals. Nearly half of SNAP participants are children, nine percent are over 60 and more than 40 percent of recipients live in households with earnings.