Release No. 0278.04

Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
Susan Acker (703) 305-2286 

USDA Awards $5 Million in Food Stamp Participation Grants

WASHINGTON, July 08, 2004 – Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced six grants totaling $5 million to organizations to help increase awareness of USDA’s Food Stamp Program for low-income households. The grants, authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, are designed to help simplify food stamp applications and eligibility systems through the use of innovative strategies.

“The grants are part of the Bush Administration’s commitment to help eligible recipients access food stamp benefits,” said Veneman. “Partnerships with federal and state governments as well as community and faith-based organizations are vital to our efforts to reach families in need.”

The grantees include states and community and faith-based organizations including the Iowa Department of Human Services, which received $882,452. During a grant presentation today in Des Moines, Iowa, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Eric M. Bost said that it is the Administration’s goal to simplify the food stamp application process and improve the access of eligible households to food stamp benefits by eligible household. 

“We are confident that these grantees are ready for the challenge,” he said. 

USDA also encouraged state agencies administering the Food Stamp program to partner with community-based or faith-based organizations. This year, the South Carolina Department of Social Services in partnership with the Southern Institute on Children and Families and the Agape Ministries of Charleston will be awarded $1 million for this collaborative effort. 

The other four grantees are the Community Action Project of Tulsa, Okla., ($818,484), the Illinois Department of Human Services ($967,664), the Nevada Department of Human Resources ($487,729) and the New Mexico Association of Food Banks ($835,000). The six grantees were selected from over 40 proposals submitted by states, nonprofit groups and other organizations. Additional information about each project is available online at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/PressReleases/2004/fsp-grants.htm .

In addition to these grants, USDA’s efforts to improve food stamp access include the recent announcement of the end of the “paper era” in the Food Stamp Program. Today, all 50 states and the U.S. territories now provide Food Stamp Program benefits with Electronic Benefits Transfer instead of the traditional paper coupon. This transition has improved the administration of this program and is cost effective. 

The Food Stamp Program, administered by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), is the cornerstone of federal nutrition assistance programs and provides crucial support to working poor and needy households. The program serves more than 23 million people.

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