OpportunityTitle: The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: A. Eligibility RequirementsApplicants for the GusNIP must meet all eligibility requirements outlined in 7 U.S.C. 7517 and as discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA&#8217;s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.1. Eligible EntityEligibility to receive a nutrition incentive grant or a produce prescription grant is limited to government agencies and non-profit organizations (FCEA, &#167; 4405(b)(2)(A)). Eligible government agencies and non-profit organizations may include: an emergency feeding organization; an agricultural cooperative; a producer network or association; a community health organization; a public benefit corporation; an economic development corporation; a farmers&#8217; market; a community-supported agriculture program; a buying club; a SNAP-authorized retailer (firm); and a State, local, or tribal agency. All applicants must demonstrate in their application that they are a government agency or non-profit organization.To be eligible to receive a nutrition incentive grant, applicants must propose projects that: (1) would increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in SNAP, by providing incentives at the point of purchase; (2) operate through authorized SNAP firms, and comply with all relevant SNAP regulations and operating requirements; (3) agree to participate in the GusNIP comprehensive program evaluation, facilitate participation through data collection and sharing data with the Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE); (4) ensure that the same terms and conditions apply to purchases made by individuals with SNAP benefits and with incentives under the GusNIP grant program as apply to purchases made by individuals who are not members of households receiving benefits as provided in 7 C.F.R. 278.2(b); and (5) include effective and efficient technologies for benefit redemption systems that may be replicated in other States and communities.To be eligible to receive a produce prescription grant, applicants must propose projects that: (1) would increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in the PPR program according to PPR eligibility described in Part I, C of the RFA, by providing incentives at the point of purchase; (2) if project design includes spending SNAP benefits to earn incentives, project must operate through authorized SNAP firms, and comply with all relevant SNAP regulations and operating requirements; (3) agree to participate in the GusNIP comprehensive program evaluation, facilitate participation through data collection and sharing data with the Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE); (4) ensure that the same terms and conditions apply to purchases made by individuals with SNAP benefits and with incentives under the GusNIP grant program as apply to purchases made by individuals who are not members of households receiving benefits as provided in 7 C.F.R. 278.2(b); and (5) include effective and efficient technologies for benefit redemption systems that may be replicated in other States and communities.27In addition, applicants must meet the following requirements to receive a FPP, FIP, FLSP, &amp; PPR grant: (1) have experience in: (i) efforts to reduce food insecurity in the community, including food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating services and programs; or (ii) experience with the SNAP program or SNAP benefits are not included in project design for PPR; (2) demonstrated competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documenta
Description: The GusNIP grant program presents the opportunity to bring together stakeholders from various parts of the food and healthcare systems to foster understanding of how they might improve the health and nutrition status of participating households 1) receiving incentives through the purchase of fruits and vegetables, 2) prescribed fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to nutrition educational opportunities and 3) offer incentive program training and technical assistance to applicants and grantees, facilitating growth in states with low participation, and collecting and aggregating core data sets from eligible entities through a central system to capture program success and identify best practices and areas to improve on a broad scale. NIFA requests applications for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) to support and evaluate projects intended to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase through nutrition incentive grants; and to demonstrate and evaluate the improvement of dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduced individual and household food insecurity, and reduced healthcare usage and associated costs through produce prescription grants. The GusNIP grant program Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation and Information Centers (NTAE) cooperative agreement applications will be invited again in FY2022, when the current cooperative agreement ends.
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GrantorContactText: NIFA Support &lt;br/&gt;Key Information: Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. &#8211; 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays