Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says nearly $5 million in grants will go to eight state agencies to simplify Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application and eligibility systems and improve access to program benefits for America's low-income households.
"These grants will help reach our goal of increasing program access and participation among America's most vulnerable citizens and to deliver healthy and nutritious food assistance to those in need," Vilsack said.
The eight state agencies are: Nebraska Health and Human Services; South Carolina Office of Rural Health; Oregon Department of Human Services; California SAWS Consortium IV; Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Oklahoma Department of Human Services; End Hunger Connecticut; and Virgin Islands Department of Human Services.
A priority for this year's grants is to fund a partnership between a state agency and one or more private non-profit organizations. Such collaboration enables the funding of projects which streamline a state's eligibility, certification and recertification processes and make them more efficient and effective.