National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) for fiscal years (FY) 2021, 2022 and 2023 to support projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and nutrition assistance by providing incentives.

The primary goal and objective of the GusNIP program is to fund and evaluate projects intended to “increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in SNAP by providing incentives at the point of purchase”. For GusNIP, nutrition incentive grants, NIFA defines “fruits and vegetables” as “any variety of fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e. sodium).” The program will test strategies that could contribute to their understanding of how best to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by SNAP participants to inform future efforts.

In reviewing applications submitted in response to this RFA, and depending on the type of GusNIP grant or project (as described in further detail in Part I, C.1, C.2, and C.3), NIFA will give priority to projects that:

• Maximize the share of funds used for direct incentives to participants
• Use direct-to-consumer sales marketing;
• Demonstrate a track record of designing and implementing successful nutrition incentive programs that connect low-income consumers and agricultural producers;
• Provide locally or regionally produced fruits and vegetables;
• Include a project design
  • that provides incentives when fruits or vegetables are purchased using supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; and
  • in which the incentives earned may be used only to purchase fruits or vegetables;
• Have demonstrated the ability to provide services to underserved communities and/or economically distressed communities, particularly Opportunity Zones;
• Include coordination with multiple stakeholders, such as farm organizations, nutrition education programs, cooperative extension services, public health departments, health providers, private and public health insurance agencies, cooperative grocers, grocery associations, and community-based and non-governmental organizations;
• Offer supplemental services in high-need communities, including online ordering, transportation between home and store, and delivery services;
• Include food retailers (firms) that are open
  • for extended hours and
  • most or all days of the year.

Program Areas

NIFA is soliciting applications under the following program areas:

• There are three types of GusNIP Grants:
  • Nutrition Incentive Grants;
  • Produce Prescription Grants; and
  • Cooperative Agreements (not available every year).
• Project types within these respective grant types are as follows:
  • Pilot Projects;
  • Standard Projects; and
  • Large Scale Projects.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $41,600,000
• Award Ceiling: $500,000
• Award Floor: $0

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility to receive a nutrition incentive grant or a produce prescription grant is limited to government agencies and non-profit organizations (FCEA, § 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’ 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.
• Eligibility to receive this cooperative agreement is limited to nongovernmental organizations; State cooperative extension services; regional food systems centers; Federal, State, or Tribal agencies; and Institutions of higher education

For more information, visit Grants.gov.