Opportunity Information: Apply for FNS SNAP FMSSG 15
Apply for FNS SNAP FMSSG 15
- The Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Farmers Market SNAP Support Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.545 Farmers Market Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Support Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 21, 2015 and posted on May 5, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 18, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments County governments State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Farmers market associations Public benefit corporations Economic development corporations Regional farmers market authorities Tribal governments
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Opportunity Summary:
The Farmers Market SNAP Support Grants (FMSSG) opportunity was a competitive USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) grant program designed to help more farmers markets accept and effectively run SNAP benefits, with a strong emphasis on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) access. For fiscal year 2015, FNS made $3.3 million available nationwide, reflecting an effort approved through the Presidents FY 2014 budget request and related congressional action. The underlying purpose was practical and operational: reduce the barriers that keep farmers markets from offering SNAP, and strengthen the capacity of markets already participating so that SNAP shoppers can reliably use their benefits to purchase eligible food at farmers markets.
At its core, the program focused on expanding SNAP accessibility and participation at farmers markets by supporting the establishment, expansion, and promotion of SNAP and EBT services. The funding was intended to cover the types of concrete, on-the-ground tasks that make SNAP work in a market setting, such as acquiring the needed equipment and providing operational support to implement or improve EBT transactions. Because the program was described as new in FY 2015, FNS also indicated it could continue in later years, suggesting an interest in building longer-term infrastructure and participation rather than offering a one-time pilot with no follow-on.
The grant was discretionary and used the standard grant instrument type under the Food and Nutrition funding activity category. FNS expected to make about 25 awards. Individual award sizes ranged from a floor of $15,000 up to a ceiling of $250,000, and there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which can make participation easier for small markets or organizations with limited cash resources. The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity was 10.545, titled Farmers Market Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Support Grants.
Eligibility was broad and included several types of public and nonprofit entities that commonly coordinate or support farmers markets. Eligible applicants included state, county, and city or township governments; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations; and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity also referenced additional eligible groups such as farmers market associations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, and regional farmers market authorities, reflecting that farmers market operations are often managed by a variety of organizational structures beyond a single municipal department or standalone nonprofit.
From a timing and administration standpoint, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FNS SNAP FMSSG 15) was posted on May 5, 2015, and had an application deadline of June 18, 2015, with an archive date of July 18, 2015. The administering agency was USDA FNS, and the announcement included a point of contact for access issues: Gregory Walton, Grants Officer. Overall, the FMSSG program can be understood as an implementation-focused funding stream aimed at helping farmers markets put the technical and administrative pieces in place to accept SNAP via EBT, increase usage once it is available, and ultimately improve equitable access to fresh and local food for SNAP participants.
Farmers Market SNAP Support Grants (FMSSG) - FAQs
What is the Farmers Market SNAP Support Grants (FMSSG) program?
The Farmers Market SNAP Support Grants (FMSSG) was a competitive USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) discretionary grant program created to help more farmers markets accept SNAP benefits and to help existing SNAP-authorized markets run SNAP effectively, with a strong emphasis on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) access.
What is the main goal of FMSSG?
The program was intended to reduce barriers that keep farmers markets from offering SNAP and to strengthen the operational capacity of markets already participating, so SNAP shoppers can reliably use benefits to purchase eligible food at farmers markets.
Which federal agency administered this opportunity?
The administering agency was the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
Was FMSSG a competitive or non-competitive grant?
FMSSG was a competitive grant opportunity.
What fiscal year did the provided FMSSG funding information apply to?
The information provided applies to fiscal year (FY) 2015.
How much total funding was available in FY 2015?
FNS made $3.3 million available nationwide in FY 2015.
Approximately how many awards were expected?
FNS expected to make about 25 awards.
What were the minimum and maximum award amounts?
Individual awards ranged from a minimum (floor) of $15,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $250,000.
Was there a match or cost-sharing requirement?
No. The opportunity specified there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What types of activities could the grant support?
The funding was aimed at practical implementation work that helps farmers markets establish, expand, and promote SNAP and EBT services. This included acquiring needed equipment and providing operational support to implement or improve EBT transactions in a farmers market setting.
What does the program mean by an emphasis on EBT?
EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) is the transaction method used for SNAP benefits. FMSSG emphasized improving access to and operation of EBT at farmers markets so SNAP benefits can be accepted and used reliably.
Was FMSSG described as a new program in FY 2015?
Yes. The program was described as new in FY 2015.
Could FMSSG continue beyond FY 2015?
FNS indicated the program could continue in later years, suggesting interest in building longer-term infrastructure and participation rather than limiting the effort to a one-time pilot.
What is the CFDA number and title associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity was 10.545, titled Farmers Market Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Support Grants.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility included state, county, and city or township governments; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations; and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education).
Were any other organization types referenced as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity also referenced farmers market associations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, and regional farmers market authorities as additional eligible groups.
Why does the eligibility list include so many different entity types?
The opportunity reflected that farmers market operations are often managed or coordinated through a variety of organizational structures, including government entities, nonprofit organizations, and specialized market or economic development authorities.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number was FNS SNAP FMSSG 15.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 5, 2015.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was June 18, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was July 18, 2015.
What funding activity category was referenced?
The opportunity referenced the Food and Nutrition funding activity category.
What grant instrument type was used?
The opportunity used the standard grant instrument type.
Who was the point of contact for access issues?
The announcement included a point of contact for access issues: Gregory Walton, Grants Officer.
What kind of impact was FMSSG intended to have for SNAP participants?
By helping markets implement and improve SNAP/EBT operations, the program aimed to increase SNAP usage at farmers markets and improve equitable access to fresh and local food for SNAP participants.
What practical barriers was FMSSG designed to address?
The program targeted practical and operational barriers that prevent farmers markets from offering SNAP, such as lacking the equipment and operational capacity needed to process EBT transactions and run SNAP reliably at the market.
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