|
The following provides detailed information on the Fiscal
Year 2011 EBT funds awarded to WIC State agencies. The EBT
awards totaled approximately $13 million.
EBT Planning Grants
EBT planning grants totaling $2,527,972
were awarded to 8 WIC State agencies to assess the
feasibility of EBT for their State, as well as to perform a
cost analysis to verify EBT affordability. The
planning process is a WIC requirement prior to EBT
implementation and looks at WIC Information System
capabilities, retailer capabilities, and baseline paper cost
compared to EBT operational cost within the State to better
prepare for the challenges of EBT implementation. WIC
State agencies must analyze both on-line and off-line EBT
technologies to assess the most cost-effective solution. The following WIC State agencies were awarded funding for EBT planning:
Alaska
Arizona (lead State agency partnering with American Samoa,
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and
Navajo Nation)
Maryland (lead State agency partnering with the Virgin
Islands)
Massachusetts
North Dakota
South Dakota
Vermont
WCD Enterprises, Inc. (lead State agency partnering with
Muscogee Creek Nation, Otoe-Missouria, Inter-Tribal Council
of Oklahoma, Osage Nation and Choctaw Nation)
EBT Implementation Grants
A total of $8,247,075 was awarded to four WIC State
agencies for EBT implementation projects. Implementation grant funds
will be used to enhance and modify current management information
systems to support EBT, conduct cost evaluations, and develop retailer
management plans. The following WIC State agencies were awarded funding
for EBT implementation:
Arkansas
Montana
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Technical Innovation Grants
One WIC State agency, Kentucky, received a technical
innovation grant in the amount of $1,773,373. Funding is provided for
development of standardized reporting, retailer certification test
scripts, and development of a web-based Internet system that will allow
WIC participants to access grocer's websites, select WIC approved foods
and purchase them with their EBT card from the convenience of their
homes. |
