Secretary Vilsack Awards $8.5 Million In Recovery Act Grants To Selected States For The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For WIC

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 24 Sep 2009 - 16:00 PDT

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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that selected State agencies will receive approximately $8.5 million in grants funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to improve Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) administration and make it easier for WIC recipients to purchase nutritious foods. Vilsack made this announcement today at the national 'Healthy Kids, Healthy Future' conference in Washington, D.C.

"WIC is a proven, effective program and is helping build a stronger, healthier America by providing nutrition assistance, promoting healthy eating and encouraging physical activity," said Vilsack. "The Obama Administration is committed to ensuring that all Americans have access to a healthy diet and these Recovery Act investments will help further that goal, while helping states to administer these important benefits efficiently, affordably and securely."

Approximately $3 million of the ARRA funds will be awarded to nine WIC State agencies for EBT planning projects. Another $5.5 million of the funds will be awarded to two WIC State agencies to implement a robust and modern computer system used to administer the WIC Program.

The WIC Program safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and counseling and health service referrals. The WIC Program is administered by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

The WIC State agencies selected to receive ARRA funds are:

Electronic Benefit Transfer Planning Grants
Alabama - $218,512
Colorado - $444,066
Delaware - $250,000
District of Columbia - $300,000
Illinois - $623,016
Missouri - $300,000
Montana - $294,999
Oregon - $167,850
Pennsylvania - $462,264
Total Awarded: $3,060,707
State Agency Model Transfer Grants
Alaska - $2,487,150
Minnesota - $2,935,346
Total Awarded: $5,422,496

Source
USDA