COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY RESOURCE KIT How to Find Money, Technical Assistance, and Other Help to Fight Hunger and Strengthen Local Food Systems July 2000 Table of Contents Welcome From the Secretary of Agriculture ..................................................................... 4 How to Use This Resource Kit ............................................................................................5 Brief Background on the USDA Community Food Security Initiative ........................... 6 Chapter 1: Local Infrastructure ....................................................................................... 7 Community Food Project Grants ................................................... Community Food and Nutrition Program .............................. Rural Community Facilities Grants and Loans ................................................... Food Policy Councils, Networks, or Coalitions .................................................... Mickey Leland/Bill Emerson Hunger Fellows Program ............................................................. National Hunger Clearinghouse of Best Practices................................................... Corporation for National Service Chapter 2: Economic and Job Security Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities Community Kitchens Food Stamp Employment and Training Program Job Access and Reverse Commute Program The Small Business Welfare to Work Initiative Welfare-to-Work Grants: Department of Labor Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG) Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) Intermediary Relending Loan Program (IRP) Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline Family Economics Program/Cooperative Extension System Asset Development: Individual Development Accounts (IDA's) Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) EXTENSION SYSTEM: Welfare-to-Work Support Sources Department of Veterans' Affairs Homeless Programs Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Chapter 3: Federal Nutrition Safety Net Food Stamp Program (FSP) WIC: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) National School Lunch Program (SLP) School Breakfast Program (SBP) National Food Service Management Institute Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Nutrition Program for the Elderly (NPE) Afterschool Care Snacks for At Risk Children Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Chapter 4: Food Recovery and Donations Food Banks and America's Second Harvest Food Rescue From the Wholesaler to the Hungry Society of St. Andrew USDA Food Recovery and Gleaning Initiative Kids Cafes Chapter 5: Food Production and Marketing Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) Loans for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Small Farm Program Farmer Direct Marketing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farmers' Markets Community Gardens Food Cooperatives Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program Self-Help and Resource Exchange (SHARE) Program Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Chapter 6: Education and Awareness Team Nutrition USDA Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP) Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Dietary Guidelines for Americans Food Guide Pyramid Interactive Healthy Eating Index Food Safety Education Chapter 7: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Food and Nutrition Assistance Research Program (FANRP) Federal Food Security Measurement Project (FFSMP) Food Security Assessment, Executive Summary Community Food Security Assessment ToolKit Selected Research Studies Funded by the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program National Nutrition Safety Net: Tools for Community Food Security Guide to Measure Household Food Security (Revised Edition) Thrifty Food Plan National Agricultural Library and the Food and Nutrition Information Center Appendices Appendix A: USDA State Community Food Security Liaisons and Gleaning Coordinators Appendix B: USDA Food and Nutrition Service Regional Offices Appendix C: Resources, Listed by Types of Entities Eligible Welcome Even though the United States is the richest and most powerful Nation in the world, far too many Americans---and particularly, children--are going hungry. In 1998, about 36 million Americans--- including 14 million children---lived in households that suffered from either hunger or food insecurity. About 10 million of these individuals---of whom 3.4 million were children-- lived in households that suffered directly from hunger, in which family members sometimes went without food because they couldn't afford to obtain it. Neither the Federal government nor communities can, on their own, solve the large and complex problem of hunger. For far too long, many government programs have worked in isolation from communities; likewise, community-led efforts frequently have been disconnected from government resources that can help improve their programs. That is why I have created the USDA Community Food Security Initiative. Through the Initiative, the Federal government is energetically forging innovative partnerships with nonprofit groups, private businesses, and individual citizens, as well as with state, local, and tribal governments, in order to help solve the problems of food insecurity and hunger. The Initiative---like the overall Community Food Security movement -- broadly addresses seven action areas: local infrastructure, economic and job security, the Federal nutrition assistance safety net, food recovery and gleaning, local food production and marketing, education and awareness, and research and monitoring. For each of these action areas, there are concrete ways the government can help communities. That's what this tool kit is all about -- helping people working at the grass-roots level to obtain the resources they need to end hunger and food insecurity. This guide will help you find funds, technical assistance, and other help for community food security-related activities from a wide variety of sources. It is one concrete way USDA is aiming to strengthen comprehensive community-based solutions, as well as improve the utilization and effectiveness of key Federal nutrition programs like the Food Stamp Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC.) The kit is designed to provide state, local, and tribal governments, as well as local nonprofit organizations, the assistance needed to initiate, strengthen, or expand many programs currently focused at achieving community food security. Although the kit does not provide the one and only solution to hunger and poverty, we hope by offering many different assistance possibilities, USDA can provide both a solution and a partnership that will fit the unique needs and resources of your community. We look forward to working with you on this vital effort. Sincerely, Dan Glickman Secretary of Agriculture How to Use This Resource Kit Time after time, grass-roots community food security and anti-hunger projects ask one basic series of questions: "How can we obtain assistance from the government, or from other sources, to help more people? How can we get money? How can we get technical assistance? What other types of help can we get?" This guide is an attempt to answer those questions. The USDA Community Food Security Initiative (CFSI) presents this Resource Kit "as a one-stop shop" for assistance for community-centered food security activities. We believe that creating the Resource Kit is a necessary step by the Federal government to enable each community to more effectively access and utilize new and existing USDA and other community food security-related programs. It has been designed to allow community organizations, including state, local, and tribal governments; non-profits, faith-based groups: state and community food policy councils; schools; the private sector etc.; to strengthen existing, or initiate new, efforts at the grass-roots level to reduce hunger and strengthen local food systems. To make the guide more user friendly to the general public unfamiliar with the intricacies of the Federal government, the guide is not sub-divided in the usual governmental manner, i.e., by the government agency, then sub-branch administering each program; rather, the guide is organized by chapters for each of the seven community food security action areas: 1) Local infrastructure (including Community Food Project grants and food policy councils) 2) Economic and job security (including assets development, job training, and economic development) 3) The Federal nutrition assistance safety net (including food stamps, WIC, and school meals) 4) Food recovery and donations (including gleaning, perishable food rescue, and food banking) 5) Local food production and marketing (including farmers' markets and community gardens) 6) Education and awareness (including general public awareness and food safety and nutrition education) 7) Research, monitoring, and evaluation (including projects that help adapt national research tools for local use) Each of the seven action area chapters begins with a short statement summarizing why that action area is important. In addition, each program/resource listing has the following information: Why This Resource Is Useful (A 1-sentence summary to help you quickly determine the general nature of a funding source or technical assistance mechanism) Eligibility (A very brief description of whether the resource is for individuals, families, nonprofit groups, or government agencies, as well as other key eligibility requirements). To make this guide most useful, all programs have one or more of the following easy symbols identifying which types of people or entities can utilize each resource: People (including individuals or households) Nonprofit organizations (including community action agencies and hunger groups) Businesses (including for-profit affiliates of nonprofit groups) Government agencies (including state and local governments and school districts) Tribes (including any sub-entities of tribal governments) Higher education (including colleges and universities) Any interested party (any citizen, group, or agency can use the resource) Program Description (a short description of what the program does and what kinds of entities are eligible, as well as any matching funds required) Best Practices (a few examples of effective ways in which the resource is being used) Deadlines (date or dates during which funding or other assistance is given) Contacts (organization or office from which you can get applications and more information--whenever possible, e-mail addresses and web sites will be listed) We strongly suggest that, before applying for assistance under a particular program, you not only read the summary information in this kit, but that you obtain more detailed information from the offices or entities most involved with that particular resource. Many of the programs in this guide have narrow guidelines set by law, so you certainly do not want to waste time and energy applying for help when your project is clearly not eligible. However, do keep looking. As the kit demonstrates, just about any sort of legitimate anti-hunger or food security project could receive help from one or more of the listed resources. If you have general questions beyond the scope of just one resource, please feel free to contact the USDA Community Food Security Initiative by contacting your State Community Food Security Liaison (list of liaisons in appendix A or at www.reeusda.gov/food_security/liaisons.htm ) or by contacting our national staff at (202) 720-5746 or joel.berg@usda.gov. Also, you can use these contacts to obtain updated information on the resources referenced in this kit. Obtaining knowledge of the vast array of community food security-related resources is the first step to full access and implementation of broad community-based responses. The Resource Kit will allow communities already working to end hunger and poverty to strive to achieve comprehensive community food security, as well as enable those who are starting new programs to more adequately address the root causes of community hunger and poverty. {INSERT STANDARD ONE PAGE HAND-OUT ON THE USDA COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE} ______________________________________________ Chapter 1: Local Infrastructure--Creating new and enhancing existing local infrastructures to reduce hunger and food insecurity. Summary Developing local infrastructure is a key aspect of all community food security activities. A strong, developed local infrastructure must be either constructed or supported by innovative partnerships with all levels of government, the private sector, and anti-hunger and anti-poverty nonprofits. With this goal in mind, the programs included in this chapter have allowed, and will continue to allow, communities to increase food security by coordinating the efforts of the whole food system to create and support the improved self-reliance of all community members. Infrastructure includes both physical and human capital, coordinated in an efficient manner. The bottom line is that organizations need both the equipment and the people to get the job done. The construction of a comprehensive local infrastructure aimed at eliminating food insecurity could include utilizing rural community facilities loans, food policy councils, community food project grants, and other tangible community-based efforts to improve nutrition and increase community and individual empowerment. It could also include adopting new methods after studying a national database of best practices to learn what works. Community Food Project Grants Why This Resource Is Useful: The Community Food Projects program provides one-time grants to nonprofit organizations to undertake comprehensive, multi-pronged responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations. Only nonprofit groups can receive these grants. Description: These grants are designed to increase food security in communities by coordinating the efforts of the whole food system, to assess the strengths, establish linkages, and create systems which will improve the self-reliance of community members. This form of self-sufficiency will be achieved by increasing each individual community's access to fresher, more nutritious food supplies and by promoting comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues. Activities include growing, processing, and marketing food, as well as improving the nutrition safety net, aiding food recovery and gleaning, and supporting nutrition education. Grant awards are funded from $10,000 to $250,000 with an annual total of $2.5 million, and require a dollar­for-dollar match in non-Federal funds (in-kind is allowable). Grants are from 1 to 3 years in duration. Best Practices (more detailed best practices can be found at the program web site:) The Tohono O'odham Community Food System, Tohono O'odham Community Action, Sells, Az--$80,000. Program goals include the development and expansion of community gardens, organization of a desert food collection program, redevelopment of traditional food-based farming practices, development of direct-to-customer and wholesale markets for traditional Tohono O'odham foods, initiation of culturally sensitive nutrition education programs, and support for the development of agriculture-based micro-enterprise projects. Community Enterprise and Food Security Project--$145,000. San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners, San Francisco, CA. The San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG) has built crop-scale urban gardens on abandoned lots adjacent to public housing developments, and runs youth job-training and employment programs at each of the sites. The Topeka Common Ground Project--$115,000. Kansas Rural Center, Inc., Whiting, KS. Joint activities will promote sustainable farming practices, economic interdependency, youth leadership, community gardening, and agricultural entrepreneurship. Deadlines: Grants applications are accepted during one application period per year, usually in late spring. Check with contacts below for update. Contact: Elizabeth Tuckermanty, Community Food Projects Coordinator U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Stop 2241, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-2241 Phone: (202) 205-0241; Web site: www.reeusda.gov./crgam/cfp/community.htm Community Food and Nutrition Program Why This Resource Is Important: This program provides funds to coordinate private and public food assistance resources, assist low-income communities to identify potential sponsors of child nutrition programs, initiate such programs in under-served or unserved areas, and develop innovative approaches at the state and local level to meet the nutrition needs of low-income individuals. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Government agencies, Tribes. States, public agencies, and public and private nonprofit agencies/organizations, including Community Action Agencies, as well as state and local anti-hunger groups, are eligible to receive funds on a competitive basis for community-based, local, and statewide programs. Description: Projects funded under this program should: Provide nutrition benefits, including those which prevent disease, to targeted low-income families Inform eligible low-income individuals and families of other nutritional services available to them Carry out targeted communications/social marketing to improve dietary behavior and increase nutrition program participation among eligible low-income populations Coordinate private and public food assistance resources Provide assistance to low-income communities in identifying potential sponsors of child nutrition programs and initiating such programs in unserved or under-served areas Develop innovative approaches at the state and local level to meet the nutrition needs of low-income individuals Best Practices: In Santa Barbara, CA, the County Community Action Commission turned an abandoned kitchen at a former mental hospital into a food production facility that daily provides over 1,000 meals for the agency's elderly, child development, and Head Start programs. Leveraging school breakfast start-up funds approved by the legislature to supplement Community Food and Nutrition Program, the Ohio Hunger Task Force was instrumental in bringing 77 new schools into the breakfast program in 1 year, as well as in easing paperwork for low-income households by advancing direct certification. City Harvest, a New York City program, translated $50,000 in CFNP support into an additional 394,000 pounds of prepared food, which was picked up nightly and provided to more than 200 emergency feeding programs, including 60 new ones recruited during the grant year. Deadlines: Deadlines vary by year; check Web site or office below. Contacts: Cathy Rivers Department of Health and Human Services Administration For Children and Families Office of Community Service; 5th Floor West 370 L'enfant Promenade S.W. Washington, D.C. 20447 (202) 401-5252 www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs/kits1.htm Rural Community Facilities Grants and Loans Why This Resource Is Useful: This program provides Federal small grants and larger loans to help rural government agencies and nonprofit groups pay for a wide variety of infrastructure upgrades, including infrastructure related to community food security, food banking, and food recovery. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Government agencies, Tribes. Public entities (such as municipalities, counties, and special-purpose districts ), nonprofit groups, and Indian Tribes in rural areas and towns with a population of 50,000 or less are eligible for these grants for facilities. Description: A small amount of grant funds­and a significantly larger amount of loan funds­are available to construct, enlarge, extend, or otherwise improve community facilities providing essential services in rural areas and towns. Grant funds are usually used to leverage larger loans; however, a limited number of stand-alone grants are now set aside specifically for community food security-related activities. Funds may be used for facilities used in health care, public safety, and public services. Funds may also be used for necessary equipment for the operation of these facilities, and to pay other necessary costs connected with them. The program may also fund other types of community facilities that provide essential services to rural residents; and may pay necessary costs connected with such facilities. The maximum term on all loans is 40 years. The Rural Community Facilities Grant Program is typically used to fund projects under special initiatives, such as Native American community development efforts; child care centers linked with the Federal government's Welfare-to-Work initiative; federally designated Enterprise and Champion Communities, the Community Food Security Initiative, and the Northwest Economic Adjustment Initiative area. In most cases, grantees are able to leverage Community Facility funds with private and state dollars to enable completion of more construction than might otherwise have been possible. Best Practices: The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has received funding to modernize its warehousing capacity. Deadlines: Funds are awarded throughout the year, but often run out quickly. The best time to apply is usually in the beginning of the Federal fiscal year, which starts every October 1. Contacts: Applications are handled in each state by the rural community facilities staff, housed in the state office of the USDA Rural Housing Service. The office in your state can be located on the Internet at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html or by calling (202) 720-1500 or (202) 720-1490. More information on Community Facilities Grants and Loans is available at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/Nonprofit/np_splash.htm Food Policy Councils, Networks, or Coalitions Why This Resource Is Useful: Typically organized by state or local governments or by a coalition of nonprofit groups, food policy councils, networks, or coalitions create a coordinating framework to bring togther diverse entities in order to build the community-based infrastructure needed for food security. Eligibility: Any interested party, Government agencies. Community Food Security (CFS) Networks and Coalitions can be formed by any group of concerned citizens, but Food Policy Councils must have the involvement of at least one government agency. Description: While there is no large pool of federal money for such efforts, all three of the types of entities described below could potentially receive limited start-up funding from the Community Food Projects Grant Program. CFS NETWORKS: Networks typically bring together representatives from a wide range of food-and agriculture-related fields for information sharing, policy advocacy, and catalyzing new collaborative projects. Networks may be loosely organized, often beginning under the umbrella of an established agency; they often have a steering committee, a coordinator, and member organizations. CFS COALITIONS: A CFS coalition is a more formally organized network. It is a defined entity like an organization, rather than an informal network. A CFS coalition may itself become a nonprofit entity if its objective is to become an enduring and independent collaboration. Coalitions typically undertake more structured and well-organized activities than networks. FOOD POLICY COUNCILS: Food Policy Councils (FPC's) can be constituted at the city, county, or state level. FPCs are generally composed of representatives from a variety of food- and agriculture-related fields in the private and public sectors. An FPC differs from a network or coalition in that it is typically sanctioned by either city or county government, and its members may be appointed by officials such as the mayor, city council president, county executive, or governor. Best Practices: Food Policy Councils have operated or currently operate in the following cities: Toronto and Edmonton (Canada), Pittsburgh (PA), Syracuse/Onandaga County (NY), Philadelphia (PA), Hartford (CT), St. Paul (MN), Knoxville (TN), Austin (TX), and Los Angeles (CA). Deadlines: Councils, coalitions, or networks can be formed any time during the year, but if they seek funds from a local government agency, it is helpful for their start-up to coincide with the start of the governmental fiscal year. Contact: Community Food Security Coalition, P.O. Box 209, Venice, California 90294 Phone: (310) 822-5410; Web site: www.foodsecurity.org Mickey Leland /Bill Emerson Hunger Fellows Program Why This Resource Is Useful: The Mickey Leland/Bill Emerson Hunger Fellows Program is a year-long fellowship that trains emerging leaders in the fight against hunger, giving them experience by placing them for 6 months in a local field and 6 months in a Washington, DC-based policy position. Eligibility: People, Nonprofit organizations. Currently, there are 20 slots for individuals to serve as Fellows; thus, the number of organizations at the local and national level who can receive Fellows is also limited to 20. Individuals selected to serve in the program generally have at least a bachelor's degree and a demonstrated commitment to fighting hunger. Local and national anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply to receive a placement of Fellows. Description: The program, a part of the overall AmeriCorps/VISTA program, provides 20 young leaders with a broad understanding of the problem of hunger, the skills necessary to contribute to a solution, and the personal experience that puts faces and names to these issues. Leland/Emerson Fellows begin their year in mid-August, and spend the first 6 months of the program working in grass-roots organizations at sites throughout the country learning about hunger and poverty through hands-on experiences. The following 6 months are spent in Washington, D.C., at national nonprofit organizations working on hunger and poverty policy. To further Fellows' professional and leadership skills during the program, professional development days are held every Friday during the Fellows' 6 months in Washington, D.C. Two intensive 10-day training sessions are held in Washington, D.C., during August and February to help the Fellows prepare for and reflect upon their work and experiences. Mickey Leland/Bill Emerson Hunger Fellows receive a living allowance that averages $8,000 for the year (designed to experience living at the poverty level), health insurance, and an education award of $4,725 for use toward further education or repayment of student loans. Housing is provided in the host community during the 6-month field placement, and assistance in locating housing in Washington, D.C., is offered for the policy placement segment of the program. Program travel expenses are provided as well. Begun in partnership with VISTA in 1994, the Mickey Leland/Bill Emerson Hunger Fellows Program is a project of the Congressional Hunger Center, founded by Congressman Tony P. Hall after Congress voted to abolish its own House Select Committee on Hunger. Fellows are chosen each year to honor the work of former U.S. Representative Mickey Leland, who perished in an air crash while visiting hunger-stricken areas in Africa in 1989, and Bill Emerson, U.S. Representative from Missouri, who worked tirelessly for the hungry, and who died in 1996. Best Practices: Because the program has a great deal of flexibility, Fellows have helped create, expand, or improve a wide variety of anti-hunger and community food security-related projects. Deadlines: Prospective Fellows must apply each year by end of January; organizations seeking a field placement must apply by April; organizations seeking a Washington, DC-based policy placement must apply by late November. Contact: Congressional Hunger Center, 229 ½ Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003, (202) 547-7022 ext.16, fax (202) 547-7575; E-mail: nohungr@aol.com Web site: http://www.hungercenter.org/ National Hunger Clearinghouse of Best Practices Why This Resource Is Useful: The National Hunger Clearinghouse offers a wealth of relevant best practices. Before undertaking any significant new activity, it is critical to learn if such activities are already carried out elsewhere and, if so, what their most and least successful techniques have been. Eligibility: Any interested party. Any organization, agency, or concerned citizen can use the Clearinghouse. Description: The National Hunger Clearinghouse is a program of World Hunger Year under contract with USDA. They operate the gleaning and food rescue hotline "1-800-GLEAN-IT." The database contains information on gleaning and food recovery groups as well as organizations covering many other facets of the anti-hunger and anti-poverty fields: hunger, nutrition, agriculture, food security, sustainable agriculture, community development, micro-credit, and job training. World Hunger Year works closely with USDA on highlighting and replicating "model programs" that focus on self-reliance. The Clearinghouse encourages donations and volunteering by making referrals to organizations throughout the United States. Best Practices: World Hunger Year has produced a detailed series of "replication guides" for some of the Nation's most innovative and effective anti-hunger, community food security, and anti-poverty programs. These guides, available through the Clearinghouse, can help others replicate existing best practices and adapt them to local conditions. Deadlines: The Clearinghouse can be accessed throughout the year. Contacts: The National Hunger Clearinghouse - World Hunger Year 505 Eighth Avenue, 21st Floor New York, NY 10018-6582 1-800-GLEAN-IT, ext.151; (212) 629-8850 fax (212) 465-9274 Elise Hubert, Information Coordinator E-mail: NHCatWHY@aol.com The Corporation for National Service Why This Resource Is Useful: The Corporation for National Service (CNS) matches talented, motivated people with opportunities to serve their community and the Nation. Eligibility: People, Nonprofit Organizations, Businesses, Schools, Higher Education, Tribes. Over 1 million people each year participate as members and volunteers in CNS's three programs (see below). Thousands of organizations--both local and national--sponsor programs. The program sponsor is the organization that manages the project, selects and supervises national service participants, organizes the service opportunities, and provides the budgeting and evaluation of the program. Description: There are three main programs of the Corporation for National Service. AmeriCorps--AmeriCorps engages more than 40,000 Americans in intensive, results-driven service. After their term of service, AmeriCorps members receive education awards that help finance college or pay back student loans. Learn & Serve America--With the help of Learn & Serve America, over 1 million children participate in service-learning activities in their schools and communities. National Senior Service Corps--Through the Senior Corps, nearly half a million Americans age 55 and older share their time and talents to help solve local problems. While the million-plus national service participants serve in all 50 states, Tribes, and U.S. territories, the programs themselves are designed and driven locally. Local communities know their problems best and are most capable of inventing innovative and entrepreneurial solutions. The national service network offers opportunities to replicate good ideas and to expand programs that are working. Best Practices: National service participants engage in such activities as tutoring, immunizing children against preventable diseases, organizing neighborhood watches, providing services for people with disabilities and homebound elderly, building homes for low-income families, assisting with disaster relief, cleaning streams and building trails--among many other services. A new and growing component focuses on bridging the Digital Divide, the gap between computer-proficient children and those who have not been introduced to computers. In addition, members recruit volunteers to work alongside them in their efforts to meet critical community needs. Deadlines: Deadlines for programs vary; contact CNS for details. Contact: Corporation for National Service 1201 New York Avenue Washington, D. C. 20525 Phone: (202) 606-5000 webmaster@cns.gov Wesite: http://www.cns.gov/ _____________________________________________ Chapter 2: Economic and Job Security­increasing economic and job security by helping low-income people attain living-wage jobs and self-sufficiency, while increasing community-based economic development in rural, urban, and suburban areas. Summary Economic and job security activities and initiatives help low-income people obtain good jobs and build self-sufficiency. They are based on the understanding that the single best way for a household to overcome food insecurity is for one or more adults in the household to obtain and maintain a job at good wages. USDA economic and job security activities provide assistance to communities, nonprofit groups, businesses, and families throughout the United States--with particular emphasis on rural communities ­ to expand local economic development in a sustainable way; create living-wage jobs; provide job training, placement, and retention aid; and help families develop assets, and to wisely save and invest funds. Economic independence is the central foundation for providing the support and security that are needed for ensuring community food security. Empowerment Zones / Enterprise Communities Why This Resource Is Useful: Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities are designed to create jobs and business opportunities in economically distressed areas. In those areas already designated EC/EZs, businesses can receive tax incentives, and special funds may be available for community-based organizations. Eligibility: Businesses, Government agencies,Tribes. Only geographical entities -- such as rural municipalities, multi-county rural regions, cities, and urban neighborhoods -- can become Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities. However, businesses moving into or creating new projects in EZ/ECs may be eligible for tax incentives. Internal Revenue Service form 954 is the authorizing document for those seeking these tax incentives. Description: The program is currently administered by the USDA in rural areas and by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in urban areas. Empowerment Zones are larger geographical entities and thus receive a larger package of government benefits than Enterprise Communities. EC/EZs have, to date, been designated in two rounds. Round I included 72 urban and 33 rural communities as EZ/EC Communities, which are currently receiving more than $1.5 billion in performance grants and more than $2.5 billion in tax incentives. 20 Round II EZs received $3.8 billion in Federal grants. The EZ/EC Initiative is unique with respect to previous urban/rural revitalization efforts because it is focused on community decision-making. Residents decide the scope of the project in their own neighborhoods, not Federal officials in Washington. Thus, all zones and communities have the flexibility to build community food security-related activities into their strategic plans if they choose to do so. The EZ/EC designations are based on strategic plans developed by local leaders, organizations, state officials, and the private sector. Each EZ/EC designation implies special consideration for various Federal programs and other assistance including social service block grants, new tax-exempt facility bonds, tax incentives for employment, and other special considerations for Federal programs. Best Practice: The Enterprise Community created the Northeast Delta Louisiana Public Market, which aids farmers, most of whom are African American, from several nearby counties. USDA funding will place the market in a permanent facility. Excess food at the end of each market day is being recovered and given to a local anti-hunger organization and participating farmers also organize field gleaning projects. The farmers are part of a small farmer cooperative. Deadlines: Contact the national offices listed below for more information on deadlines for particular resources. Contacts: Rural: http://www.ezec.gov USDA, Rural Development, Office of Community Development, 300 7th St., SW, Washington, DC, 20024, Phone: (202) 619-7980, Fax: (202) 401-7420. Urban: www.hud.gov/cpd/ezec/ezeclist.html United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development, 451 7th St., SW, Washington DC 20410, Room 7130 Phone: 202-708-6339, or (toll-free) 1-800-998-9999. Community Kitchens Why This Resource Is Useful: Community Kitchens help train low-income individuals for jobs in the food service industry while recovering excess prepared food for distribution to the hungry. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Schools. Non-profit groups or schools with access to commercial food preparation facilities, as well as ties to efforts that rescue perishable food, can create Community Kitchen programs. Description: Community Kitchen programs create valuable partnerships aimed at eliminating hunger by actively linking social service providers, nonprofits, local government, and the private sector to empower low-income individuals. The Community Kitchen Program is based on the idea that food can be used as a powerful tool to fight hunger, as well as its root causes. The Community Kitchen concept was pioneered by DC Central Kitchen and has been expanded with the collaboration of Foodchain, the National Food Rescue Network, which makes private sector-funded grants available for Community Kitchen start-up and planning. The Community Kitchen programs combine job training and food recycling to feed the hungry with training for low-income individuals in the culinary arts or the food industry. Community Kitchens secure donated foods from local donors and then return donations to a "central hub" kitchen. At this point men and women enrolled in the culinary arts program convert the food donations into meals. The meals produced at the Kitchen are then distributed to target sites in the community, including homeless shelters, children's after-school programs, drug rehabilitation clinics, adult feeding programs, and other programs. Best Practices: Community Kitchen program graduates gain valuable marketable skills and often gain employment at the same businesses that donate food to the Community Kitchen. One great example of the integrated response of Community Kitchen programs can be seen in Richmond, VA. The Central Virginia Food Bank combines the local food bank, the Urban League of Richmond, Sargent Community College, and the local American Culinary Federation chapter, to fully address the complexities of overcoming hunger and poverty in the Richmond area. Many of the graduates of this program have found employment within the local food industry. Deadlines: Foodchain grant applications are usually due in the late spring. Please contact the organizations indicated below for current information. Contacts: DC Central Kitchen America's Second Harvest 425 2nd St., N.W. 116 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 4 Washington, DC 20001 Chicago, Illinois 60603 (202) 234-0707 Phone: (312) 263-2303 x116 http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/ Web site: www.secondharvest.org The Food Stamp Employment and Training Program Why This Resource Is Useful: Low-income individuals eligible to receive food stamps have the opportunity to receive education, job-training, and work experience. Eligibility: Government agencies, Nonprofit organizations. States receive the funding directly but have the ability to provide funding to contractors, nonprofit groups, or local government agencies to carry out employment and training activities. Description: Since 1987 states have participated in the Food Stamp Employment and Training (E&T) Program to provide able-bodied food stamp recipients meaningful work-related activities that lead to employment and a decreased dependence on food stamps. The Federal government allocates to states a 100 percent Federal E&T grant each fiscal year to administer their E&T programs. States can choose which E&T program components they offer. E&T components may include: job search training and support; independent job search; workfare; educational programs to improve employability; work experience or training; and self-employment training. The agency in each state that operates the Food Stamp Program is also responsible for administering the E&T Program. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 instituted a 3-month food stamp participation limit for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). Unless they are exempted by state agencies under authority of the Food Stamp Act, or unless they live in a area in which the participation limit has been waived because of high unemployment or a lack of jobs, ABAWDs must work; participate for 20 hours a week in a qualifying education, training, or work program; or participate in workfare to receive food stamps for more than 3 months in a 36­month period. In response to Administration concerns about the effect of the 3­month participation limit on ABAWDS, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) authorized substantial additional Federal funding to create qualifying work, education, and training opportunities for ABAWDS. Best Practices: Illinois contracts with public and private nonprofit organizations and agencies in Chicago (and with its Workforce Development System outside the city) to provide slots in its workfare program, called "Illinois works." Also in Illinois, under the Volunteer Community Work Program, approximately 6,300 ABAWDs monthly will preform work for public and/or private nonprofit organizations at a rate equal to the ABAWD's monthly food stamp allotment divided by the minimum wage, up to a maximum of 20 hours per month. South Dakota's ABAWD workforce component, "Community Service," operates in 20 counties via a partnership between the South Dakota Departments of Social Services and Labor. Washington has a workfare component for ABAWDs that consists of 30 days of job search, followed by placement in an approved public or nonprofit worksite if the job search is unsuccessful. The six regions within Washington's Department of Social Services either contract for workfare site development and monitoring with a variety of community organizations, or hire staff as workfare coordinators. Deadlines: States submit a plan every 2 years. Contacts: Contact your States' Department of Social Services. The phone number may be listed under Health and Human Services. Job Access and Reverse Commute Program Why This Resource Is Useful: It provides funding for communities to solve transportation problems. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Government agencies. Local government agencies and private non-profit organizations eligible for discretionary grants for operating and capital expenses for Jobs Access transportation service. Description: The Job Access and Reverse Commute Program has two major goals: (1) to provide transportation services in urban, suburban, and rural areas to help welfare recipients and low-income individuals access employment opportunities; and (2) to increase collaboration among the transportation providers, human service agencies, employers, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), states, and affected communities and individuals. . Job Access projects are targeted at developing new or expanded transportation services such as shuttles, vanpools, new bus routes, connector services to mass transit, and guaranteed ride home programs for welfare recipients and low income persons. The Job Access and Reverse Commute Program funds promotion of employer-provided transportation, use of transit for non traditional purposes, and transit voucher programs. Grants are awarded based on the percentage of population that are welfare recipients, the demonstrated need for additional services, the level of current coordination with and the use of existing transportation providers, the use of innovative approaches, and the presence of a regional plan and long term financing strategy. Funding for Job Access grants is authorized at $150 million annually. Of this amount, $50 million was guaranteed in fiscal year (FY) 1999. The guaranteed portion increases by $25 million a year, reaching the full authorized $150 million in FY 2003. In FY 1999, $75 million was available for the Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program. A 50 percent non-DOT match was required. Other Federal funds that are eligible to be expended for transportation can be used as part of the match. Applicants should submit projects that can be implemented quickly. This announcement is available on the Internet on the U.S. Department of Transportation's FTA website at http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw Best Practice: FTA encourages grantees to consider how technology innovation may assist in meeting the mobility needs of Job Access & Reverse Commute (JARC) recipients. FTA is offering grantees an alternative mechanism to help speed up the process of deploying such promising new technologies through the Joint Partnership Program for the Deployment of Innovation (JPP). Deadlines: The application deadline changes yearly, so it is important to check the Web site or office listed below. Contact: For general information or to view the FY 1999 projects; see FTA's Web site at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw United States Department of Transportation Doug Birnie, Federal Transit Administration, Room 6423, 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, Phone (202) 366-1666 FAX (202) 366-3765 Welfare-to-Work Grants: U.S. Department of Labor Why This Resource Is Useful: Welfare-to-work grants help recipients of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (formerly the AFDC welfare program) through job creation and training, education, and other related programs. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Businesses, Government agencies, Tribes Competitive grants may be awarded to local governments, Private Industry Councils, Tribes, and private entities (such as community development corporations and community-based organizations, community action agencies, and other private organizations) who apply in conjunction with a Private Industry Council or local government. The Secretary of Labor will give special consideration to cities with large concentrations of poverty as well as to rural areas. Description: The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 authorized the U.S. Department of Labor to provide Welfare-to-Work Grants to States and local communities to create additional job opportunities for the hardest-to-employ recipients of TANF. The grants may be used to help move eligible individuals into long-term unsubsidized jobs using strategies like: job creation through short-term public or private sector wage subsidies; on-the-job training; contracts with public or private providers of job readiness, job placement, and post-employment services; job vouchers for similar services; community service or work experience; or job retention and supportive services (if such services are not otherwise available). The grants totaled $3 billion: $1.5 billion to be awarded in fiscal year 1998 and $1.5 billion in fiscal year 1999. There will be two kinds of grants: (1) Formula Grants to States and (2) Competitive Grants to local communities. A small amount of the total grant money is also to be set aside for special purposes: 1 percent for Indian tribes; 0.8 percent for evaluation; and $100 million for performance bonuses to successful States. Best Practices: Assistance can be provided to individuals who have reached the 60-month TANF time limit. Such assistance does not count toward the 60-month limit unless it is cash assistance provided directly or through wage subsidies. In those cases, the months do count toward the 60-month limit. Deadlines: Once a year, States submit a 2-year plan. The one they submitted this year expires in 2001. Contacts: US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210 Dennis Lieberman-Phone: 202-219-0181 ext. 132, http://wtw.doleta.gov/resources/fact-grants.htm List of the Department of Labor welfare-to-work offices: http://wtw.doleta.gov/resources/regcon.htm Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG) Why This Tool Is Useful: These grants support community planning, technical assistance, and training for rural businesses and can be used to support food-related micro-enterprise or job creation activities targeted at food-insecure individuals. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Businesses, Government agencies, Tribes. Public bodies, nonprofit organizations, Native American tribes, and cooperatives can receive funds through this program. Applicants must be located in rural areas. Description: The Rural Business Opportunity Grants program (RBOG) was created by the 1996 Farm Bill to assist in the economic development of rural areas by providing grants for business and community development. Grant funds may be used for the following purposes: to identify and analyze business opportunities, including export markets, that will use local natural and human resources; identify, train, and provide technical assistance to existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and managers; establish business support centers and otherwise assist in the creation of new rural businesses; conduct local community or multi-county economic development planning; establish centers for training, technology, and trade that will provide training to rural businesses in the utilization of interactive communications technologies to develop international trade opportunities and markets; conduct leadership development training of existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and managers; and pay reasonable fees and charges for professional services necessary to conduct the technical assistance, training, or planning functions. The program can fund any such activities for food-related enterprises. For FY2000 there is approximately $3 million available. Deadlines: There are two rounds of funding at the national level. Please contact your state Rural Business Cooperative Service office for more information. Contacts: Applications are handled in each state through the USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service. The RBS office in your state can be located on the Internet at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html For national information about the overall program, contact: U.S. Department of Agriculture Wayne Stansbery Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Specialty Lenders Division 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Stop 1521, Washington DC 20250 Phone: (202) 720-1400; E-mail: wstansbe@rus.usda.gov Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) Why This Resource Is Useful: The RBEG program assists small and emerging businesses in rural areas outside the boundary of a city of 50,000 or more and in their immediately adjacent urbanized or urbanizing areas. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Government agencies, Tribes. Eligible recipients for this grant are public bodies, private nonprofit operations, and federally recognized Indian tribal groups. Public bodies include incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, townships, counties, states, authorities, districts, and Native American Tribes on Federal and state reservations, and other federally recognized Indian tribal groups in rural areas. Description: The purpose of the Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) program is to finance and facilitate the development of small and emerging private business enterprises located in rural areas through grants to public bodies, nonprofits, and federally recognized Indian Tribal groups. This includes starting and operating revolving loan funds, business incubators, and industrial parks. Costs that may be paid from grant funds include the acquisition and development of land; fees for professional services; technical assistance and training associated with technical assistance; startup operating costs and working capital, providing financial assistance to a third party; production of television programs to provide information to rural residents; and creating, expanding, and operating rural distance learning networks. Best Practices: In Vermont, the Economic Development Council and the University of Vermont each received a grant of $250,000 to fund community kitchen/incubator facilities for use by small and emerging food processing businesses in developing and testing new uses of their products, packaging/canning, and distribution activities. Deadlines: Deadlines vary from state to state. Please contact your state office for more information. Contacts: Applications are handled in each state through the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service. The office in your state can be located on the Internet at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html For national information about the overall program, contact: Carole Boyko or Amy Cavanaugh USDA, Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Special Lenders Division Room 5404 South Building, Stop 1521, Washington, DC 20250 Phone: (202) 720-1400; Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/bprogs.htm Intermediary Relending Loan Program (IRP) Why This Resource Is Useful: Loans for establishing revolving loan funds to provide financing for rural businesses and community development. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Businesses, People, Government agencies, Tribes. Nonprofit corporations, public agencies, Native American Tribes, and cooperatives are eligible to receive IRP funds as intermediaries. Intermediaries must have adequate legal authority and a proven record of successfully assisting rural businesses and industries. The ultimate recipients of loans from IRP revolving loan funds can be for-profit organizations, individuals, and public and private nonprofit organizations, and must be located in unincorporated areas or in cities with populations under 25,000. Description: The Intermediary Relending Loan Program (IRP) provides direct loans at 1 percent interest to intermediaries for establishing revolving loan funds for small businesses and community development projects in rural areas. Intermediaries are nonprofit organizations or public agencies that re-lend money through loan pools to ultimate recipients, who are businesses, individuals and others. The USDA state offices of Rural Development generally are delegated loan approval authority on a case-by-case basis. Applications are considered in a quarterly national competition. Loans to intermediaries range from $100,000 to $2 million. Intermediaries receive a 30-year loan with a fixed annual interest rate of 1 percent. Funding available for fiscal year 1997 was $37 million. Factors considered in judging applications from intermediaries include: financial condition, assurance of repayment ability, equity, collateral, experience and record of managing a loan program or providing other assistance to rural businesses, ability to leverage with funds from other sources, extent assistance would flow to low-income persons. Best Practices: As part of the Pacific Northwest Economic Adjustment Initiative, an IRP loan of $1.5 million supplemented an existing revolving loan fund for relending to small businesses in rural Jackson and Josephine Counties in Oregon. Businesses that create or retain permanent jobs involving skills related to manufacturing, industrial production, and wood products are given preference. Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc., the intermediary, estimates that by targeting a maximum of $20,000 per full-time-equivalent job created or saved, the IRP loan will create or save at least 50 jobs in the fund's first round of loans in these communities. Deadlines: Please contact your state office for deadlines. Contacts: Applications are handled in each state through the USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service. To locate your state office, go to: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html For national information about the overall program, contact: Wayne Stansbery Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Specialty Lenders Division 1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington DC 20250-1521, Phone: (202) 720-1400 E-Mail: wstansbe@rus.usda.gov Website: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/bprogs.htm Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline Why This Resource is Useful: Teaches low income individuals about nutrition, healthy cooking, and food budgeting.. Eligibility: People, Nonprofits, Government Agencies Low-income individuals and families can enroll in Operation Frontline classes; partnerships with non-profits and government agencies can increase efficiency of costs and resources. Description: Operation Frontline classes are designed to help people cook more nutritious and economical meals for themselves and their families. Each class focuses on a different theme, such as following the food guide pyramid, shopping effectively or cooking nutritious meals. Taught by professionally trained volunteer chefs, nutritionists and financial planners, classes meet once a week for six weeks, and run 2 hours in length. The classes are taught at family support centers, HeadStart agencies, health clinics, and other non-profit community organizations, and compliment the programs offered by the agencies to their clients. Share Our Strength provides partner agencies with a proven turn-key program, and a national office which ensures development and maintenance at both the local and national levels. The following classes are currently being offered in Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Washington DC: Eating Right -For Low Income Families Kids Up Front -For At-Risk Children 8-12 Eating Well -For People With HIV and AIDS Side By Side -For Parents and Children Together Your Money, Your Choices -Financial Planning Best Practices: Share our Strength and Head Start have engaged in a pilot project entitiled the SOS/Head Start Partnership to Promote Healthy Eating. More than 80 Operation Frontline classes have been held in Head Start centers across the country, with a goal of building the Eating Right adult curriculum into Head Start's outreach efforts to parents. Operation Frontline has had several successful partnerships with USDA including: CSREES: EFNEP agents have taught classes in 8 states. In Seattle, EFNEP agents talk to participants about how they can access and derive the most benefits from the Food Stamp program. WIC: Classes have been held at WIC centers in 4 states and the District of Columbia. In Chicago, Operation Frontline partners with Near North Health Service Corporation, a WIC grantee agency which provides healthcare and support services to underserved low income communities. Team Nutrition: The Rhode Island Team Nutrition Institute provided funding to develop the curriculum for Side by Side, a four-week program that brings parents and children into the kitchen to learn about healthy eating. Deadlines: None. Classes are run all year round. Contact: Kristen Curran, Operation Frontline Manager kcurran@strength.org Share Our Strength; 733 15th Street, NW; Washington, DC 20005 (202) 393-2925 (phone); (202) 347-5868 (fax) http://www.strength.org Family Economics Program/Cooperative Extension System Why This Resource Is Useful: This program provides consumer education; teaches personal financial management skills to youth, limited-resource families, and young families; and promotes comprehensive financial planning throughout the life cycle. Some county Extension offices also help families in financial crises through one-on-one consultation. Eligibility: People. Program Description: Cooperative, State Research Education and Extension Service links the teaching, research, and extension activities of 103 land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve the quality of life for all Americans. Research conducted largely through the land-grant universities is delivered to people via the Cooperative Extension System (CES). CES is a public-funded, non-formal educational system that extends research-based information to nearly 3,150 county offices. Its mission is to "help people improve their lives and communities through learning partnerships that put knowledge to work." Among CES's key objectives is improving the consumer skills of our Nation's individuals and families. The Family Economics (FE) Team of the CSREES Economic and Community Systems Unit provides leadership to state, regional, and county-level educators who deliver basic consumer education; teach personal financial management skills to youth, limited-resource families, and young families; and promote comprehensive financial planning throughout the life cycle. Some county Extension offices also help families in financial crises through one-on-one consultation. Issues receiving increased attention are basic life skills leading to job retention for welfare-to-work individuals, saving for retirement, personal finance education for youth and employees, and electronic benefits transfer for the "unbanked." Deadlines: There are no deadlines for these services. Contacts: All state-level Cooperative Extension offices are listed at the following Web site: http://www.pwd.reeusda.gov/pwd/pcontactlist.asp Or contact the national coordinating office at: Dr. Jane Schuchardt, National Program Leader, Family Economics USDA CSREES Family Economics Team1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-2217 Phone: (202) 720-5119; E-mail: jschuchardt@reeusda.gov Asset Development: Individual Development Accounts (IDA's) Why This Resource Is Useful: IDA's work to create economic independence and mobility for low-income individuals. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, Government agencies, Tribes. One or more not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations; or a state or local government agency or tribal government, may submit an application jointly with a not-for-profit organization. The Assets for Independence Act provides for a matching requirement of 1:1 private and public (non-Federal) funds to Federal dollars issued under each grant. The maximum Federal grant is $500,000 for a five year project with up to 7.5 percent of grant funds available for project administration and support services. Funds are available on a competitive basis. Description: Assets for Independence AFIA, under Title IV of the Community Opportunity Accountability, and Training and Education Services Act of 1998, establishes the Assets for Independence Demonstration Program (IDA Program). This legislation supports the work that States and community-based organizations are doing in support of IDA's and other asset-based development strategies. IDA's are dedicated savings accounts that can be used by eligible participants for purchasing a first home, paying for post-secondary education, or capitalizing a business. These IDA's are comprised of participant savings from earned income and are matched by deposits of up to $8 dollars for each dollar saved. These investments have the potential to bring a new level of economic and personal security to families and communities. The intent of the demonstration is to encourage participants to develop and reinforce strong habits for saving money. Best Practice: The Community Action Project of Tulsa County (CAPTC) is a comprehensive anti-poverty agency in Tulsa, Oklahoma. CAPTC's mission is to help individuals and families in economic need achieve self-sufficiency through emergency aid, medical care, housing, community development, education, and advocacy in an atmosphere of respect. The target population includes individuals with income below 150 percent of the Federal poverty line. Participants must deposit between $10 and $62.50 each month. In addition, participants may make a larger deposit from their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) rebate annually. Once participants open their accounts, they are required to attend three Economic & Financial Literacy meetings over the course of 4 months at Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service. Additionally, participants saving for home purchase or business start-up are required to attend sessions specifically addressing these topics. Contact for information: Jennifer Robey, CAPTC, 125 N. Greenwood, 3rd Floor, Tulsa, OK 74120. Deadlines: Please consult the contact below for deadlines. Contacts: Dick Saul, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services 200 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20201, Phone: (202) 401-9341 Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) 777 North Capital Street, NE, Ste. 410, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 408-9788; Fax: (202) 408-9793; E-mail: cfed@cfed.org; Web site: http://www.cfed.org/ Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Why This Resource Is Useful: The EITC provides a cash benefit tax relief and a work incentive to low-income working families. Eligibility: People. To qualify for EITC, the participant must meet basic income requirements which include (1) with no qualifying child: income of $10,030 or less per year; (2) with one qualifying child: income of $26,473 or less per year; (3) with more than one qualifying child: income of $30,095 or less per year; (4) file a joint return if you are married; (5) age of 25-65 and not be counted as a dependent of someone else; (6) have resided in the United States for at least half of the year; (7) have a Social Security number issued by the Social Security Administration. Description: The Earned Income Task Credit (EITC) was enacted in 1975 provide the Nation's low-income working families with tax relief and an incentive to work. The EITC can provide a cash benefit, even to families whose incomes are so low that they do not owe taxes. As of 1996, the EITC could provide as much as $3,500 to working families with income below $28,000. To receive the credit, workers submit a "Schedule EIC" at the time they file their taxes. Employees may receive benefits as a supplement to their regular paychecks through the "advance payment" program. Federal law mandates that all employers notify their employees about EITC and offer them the option to receive credit through their paychecks. One can receive the EITC in one payment at the end of the year when the participant files his or her taxes, or one may receive partial credit throughout the year directly through the participant's paycheck. Currently, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has an EITC training schedule and educational packet. Best Practices: County Extension offices can inform people of programs ongoing in the county to assist with EITC applications. Deadlines: Applications for the EITC must be filed along with the applicant's Federal tax return each year. Contacts: U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20220 Phone: (202) 622-1100 Web site: http://www.irs.gov/prod/ind_info/eitc4.html The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 820 1st St., NE, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20002, Phone: (202) 408-1080  All state-level Cooperative Extension offices are listed at the following Web site: http://www.pwd.reeusda.gov/pwd/pcontactlist.asp Or contact the national coordinating office at: CSREES Family Economics Team Dr. Jane Schuchardt, National Program Leader, Family Economics (202) 720-5119 Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW. ,Washington, DC 20250-2217 email: jschuchardt@reeusda.gov Extension System Welfare-to-Work Support Services Why This Resource Is Useful: The Extension System is a Federal, state and county partnership that offers education to help people improve their lives. States and counties determine their own programs. Welfare-to-work programs through Extension vary according to the needs of their communities. It is important to contact county and state Extension professionals when looking for welfare-to-work educational opportunities. Eligibility: People Description: CSREES links the teaching, research, and extension activities of 103 land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve the quality of life for all Americans. Research conducted largely through the land-grant universities is delivered to people via the Cooperative Extension System (CES). CES is a public-funded, non-formal educational system that extends research-based information to nearly 3,150 county offices. Its mission is to "help people improve their lives and communities through learning partnerships that put knowledge to work." Among CES's key objectives is improving the consumer skills of our Nation's individuals and families. Best Practices: Extension offers many and varied opportunities in education and training to improve individuals' ability to move into the work force and leave welfare. Contacts: Local county-level offices are usually listed in the phone book under the county's name. All state-level Cooperative Extension offices are listed at the following Web site: http://www.pwd.reeusda.gov/pwd/pcontactlist.asp For more information, contact: University of Maryland, Department of Family Studies Bonnie Braun, Ph.D., CFCS Extension Family Life Specialist 1204 Marie Mount Hall College Park, Maryland 20742-7515 (301) 405-3581 (301) 314-9161 (fax) BB157@umail.umd.edu Or contact the national coordinating office at: CSREES Family 4H and NutritionCooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250-2225 (202) 720-2908. Department of Veterans' Affairs Homeless Programs Why This Resource Is Useful: Veterans Affairs provides assistance to homeless veterans and their dependents. Assistance includes medical care and economic benefits. Funds are available to organizations that provide transitional housing and other support services if 75 percent or more of their clients are homeless veterans. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, People, Government agencies. Eligibility varies. Please contact the homeless coordinator at your nearest VA medical center or VA Regional Benefits Office. Description: VA is the only Federal agency that provides substantial hands-on assistance directly to homeless people. Limited to homeless veterans and their dependents, VA's program is the largest integrated network of homeless programs in the country. These programs include aggressive outreach to homeless veterans; clinical assessments and referral for medical treatment for both physical and psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse. Following are a few of VA's programs that provide assistance to service providers: Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. Provides grants and per diem payments to assist public and nonprofit organizations in establishing and operating new supportive housing and supportive service centers for homeless veterans. Grant funds may also be used to assist organizations in purchasing vans to conduct outreach or provide transportation for homeless veterans. Since FY1994, VA has awarded 127 grants under this program, totaling more than $26 million. Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education, and Networking Groups) for Veterans. This nationwide initiative links the VA with other Federal, state, local, and nonprofit organizations to assess the needs of homeless veterans, develop action plans to meet needs, and develop directories of local community resources for use by homeless veterans. Acquired Property Sales for Homeless Providers Program. Homeless service providers may purchase at a discount of 20 to 50 percent properties that the VA has obtained through foreclosure of VA-insured mortgages. To date, 116 properties have been sold, and 58 have been leased to nonprofit organizations to provide housing for the homeless. HUD-VA Supported Housing Program. Provides permanent housing and ongoing case management services for harder-to-serve homeless veterans. VA's Supported Housing Program. VA staff work with private landlords, public housing authorities, and nonprofit organizations to find creative housing arrangements. Stand Downs. Provide a safe haven of 1 to 3 days for homeless veterans and a variety of services, including a way for community-based homeless providers to reach more homeless. Contacts: Homeless Veterans Programs Office (Room 075D) Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC Phone (202) 273-5764; Fax (202) 273-9472; E-mail: homelessvets@mail.va.gov Website: http://www.va.gov/health/homeless/AssistProg.htm Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Why This Resource Is Useful: This program provides metropolitan cities and urban counties (called "entitlement communities") with annual direct grants that they can use to revitalize neighborhoods, expand affordable housing and economic opportunities, and/or improve community facilities and services. Eligibility: Government Agencies, Non-profits, Businesses, People. Recipients of CDBG entitlement funds include local governments with 50,000 or more residents, other local governments designated as central cities of metropolitan areas, and urban counties with populations of at least 200,000 (excluding the population of entitled cities). Local governments may carry out all activities themselves or award some or all of the funds to private or public nonprofit organizations as well as for-profit entities. A separate component of CDBG--the State CDBG Program--provides program funds to the states, which they allocate among localities that do not qualify as entitlement communities. Description: Since 1974, CDBG's have been the backbone of improvement efforts in many communities, providing a flexible source of annual grant funds for local governments nationwide--funds that they, with the participation of local citizens, can devote to the activities that best serve their own particular development priorities, provided that these projects either (1) benefit low- and moderate-income persons; (2) prevent or eliminate slums or blight; or (3) meet other urgent community development needs. The CDBG Entitlement Communities program provides assistance to almost 1000 of the largest localities in the country. Grantees may use CDBG funds for activities that include (but are not limited to): Acquiring real property for public purposes; reconstructing or rehabilitating housing and other property; building public facilities; helping people prepare for and obtain employment through education and job training; assisting for-profit businesses for special economic development activities; providing public services for youths, seniors, or the disabled; carrying out crime reduction; assisting low-income homebuyers; enforcing local building codes; paying for planning and administrative expenses, such as costs related to developing a Consolidated Plan and managing CDBG funds. Best Practices: Larger cities such as New York City and Boston allocate $500,000 and $800,000, respectively, in annual CDBG funds for community gardening efforts. Smaller cities like Yonkers, NY, and East Lansing, MI, allocate $25,000 and $7,000, respectively, to help support their community gardening programs. Deadlines: None. The program year can begin anytime from January 1 to October 1; consolidated plans are reviewed within 45 days after submission. Contact: The Office of Block Grant Assistance in HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) administers the program. Contact: Entitlement Communities Division, Room 7282, 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410, (202) 708-1577. http://www.hud.gov/cpd/cdbg.html For other program information, contact Community Connections (1-800-998-9999). Chapter 3: Federal Nutrition Safety Net--Strengthening the Federal nutrition assistance safety net by supporting the full and efficient use of programs such as food stamps, WIC, school meals, summer feeding, and TEFAP commodities. Summary Promoting food security for all American communities is a challenge that requires the combined efforts of individual citizens, the private sector, and the government at the local, state, and Federal levels. Federal nutrition assistance programs, such as the Food Stamp Program, Child Nutrition Programs, and Commodity Programs, are a vital part of this strategy. Working with our state partners, Federal nutrition programs represent a nutrition insurance safety net for millions of low-income Americans. The Federal nutrition safety net, in coordination with nonprofit food recovery and donation and local food production, provides the foundation for the most universal and comprehensive form of anti-hunger food assistance. One of every six Americans was served by the Department's nutrition assistance programs in FY 1998. This chapter provides basic briefings for federal and nonprofit programs relating to nutrition assistance and education, feeding programs, food recovery, donations, and gleaning for children, adults and the elderly. Food Stamp Program Why This Resource Is Useful: The Food Stamp Program supplements low-income households' ability to purchase nutritious food and is the foundation of USDA's nutrition safety net. Eligibility: People. The program is open to eligible households. Food stamp eligibility and allotments are based on household size and income, assets, and other factors. A household's gross monthly income cannot exceed 130 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines and its net income cannot can not exceed 100 percent of the guidelines. All undocumented immigrants and many legal immigrants are ineligible for food stamps benefits. A household is defined as a person, or a group of people living together, who are not necessarily related but who purchase and prepare food together. The allotment is based on he cost of the Thrifty Food Plan, a low-cost model diet plan. Description: The Food Stamp Program is the cornerstone of USDA's nutrition assistance programs. The program helps low-income households increase their food purchasing power and obtain a better diet. The current structure provides monthly coupons to eligible low-income families which are redeemable at retail food stores or through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT). EBT allows a household to use a debit card rather than coupons and can enhance program integrity by creating an electronic record of food stamp transactions. The Food Stamp Program is targeted towards those most in need. Most participating households include children or an elderly member. Households may apply for benefits at local social service offices and will be asked to provide information about their financial circumstances. Once certified, most households will continue to receive food stamps for 6 months or more. The Food Stamp Program served an average of 17.7 million people in fiscal year 1999. Best Practices: States and local offices have instituted a number of practices to improve access to the Food Stamp Program. The practices are varied and generally designed to meet the needs of the population that a specific state or county serves. Some practices, however, may be implemented across most states and/or local offices, such as extended office hours to improve accessibility for the working poor, walk-in procedures to minimize the wait to see an eligibility worker, and drop boxes to help clients report changes. FNS is working with States to compile and share best practices. Deadlines: Food stamp benefits may be obtained at any time during the year. Contacts: The program is managed directly in each state by an agency of state government; a list of state food stamp hotlines can be found at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/MENU/CONTACTS/hotlines.htm National information can be obtained through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service: Food Stamp Program, FNS, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302 For detailed program information: (703) 305-2026 For General Food Stamp Information: 1-800-221-5689: Web site: www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/ WIC: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Why This Resource Is Useful: The WIC Program provides nutritious food, nutrition education, and referrals to other healthcare and assistance programs to low-income mothers, as well as their infants and young children. Eligibility: People. To be eligible for WIC, an applicant must meet state residency requirements, meet an income standard below 185 percent of poverty (or be a member of a family in which certain members receive food stamps, Medicaid or TANF), and have been determined by a health professional to be at nutritional risk. Program Description: WIC is a grant program whose goal is to improve the health of low-income, at- risk pregnant, postpartum, and breast-feeding women, infants and children up to 5 years old, by providing supplemental foods, nutrition education, and access to health care. In most States, WIC participants receive vouchers that allow them to purchase a monthly food package specially designed to supplement their diets. The foods provided are high in protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C. WIC foods include iron-fortified infant formula and infant cereal; iron-fortified adult cereal; vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable juice; eggs, milk, and cheese; and peanut butter, dried beans, or peas. Special therapeutic formulas and foods are provided when prescribed by a physician for a specified medical condition. A few state agencies provide food directly to participants, but most states provide WIC vouchers that can be redeemed at authorized food stores for approved foods. WIC provides each state with a grant of funds to serve its WIC population. Because of the documented success of the WIC Program in improving the nutritional well-being of participants, it has expanded significantly. In FY 1999, WIC served about 7.3 million people each month. The appropriation for the WIC program in FY 2000 was $4.0 billion. Best Practice: The Cornerstone program of the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Community Health and Prevention WIC Program is a management information system developed and implemented to facilitate the integration and delivery of maternal and child health services and to measure outcomes. Built on the need for an advanced system that could effectively monitor these aspects of the WIC Program, Cornerstone helps improve the operation of Family Case Management, Prenatal Care, Pediatric Primary Care, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening, Diabetes Control, and Childhood Immunization programs. An additional module for tracking services for children with developmental disabilities is also being developed and will be implemented in the near future. Deadlines: None. Enrollment is all year round. Contacts: The program is managed directly in each state, territory, or Indian Tribal Organization by the health department or comparable entity of state, territorial, or tribal government. However, national information can be obtained through USDA's Food and Nutrition Service at the following address: Patricia N. Daniels, National Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service-USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 540, Alexandria, VA 22302 Phone: (703) 305-2746; Web site: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/ WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Why This Resource Is Useful: The WIC FMNP provides coupons to low-income, at-risk women and children to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets to help improve their nutrition and to increase the income of small farmers. Eligibility: People. Women, children, and infants over 4 months old who participate in the WIC program are eligible for FMNP benefits. Farmers who are certified by participating states and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) and sell produce at farmers' markets are eligible to redeem the coupons. Description: The FMNP is affiliated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, popularly known as WIC, which is administered by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The program began as a 10-state demonstration project in 1989 and was established as regular program in 1992 by Congress. The FMNP has two goals: (1) to make locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables available to low-income, nutritionally at-risk women, infants and children; and (2) to expand awareness and use of farmers' markets and to support local farmers who use such markets. State departments of health or agriculture, other state agencies, ITOs, and territorial governments may apply to USDA for Federal funds to operate the FMNP. Federal funds support 70 percent of the total cost of the program. Matching funds must come from state, local, or private sources. A directory of FMNP contacts for each state can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/MENU/CONTACTS/farm/farm.HTM Best Practices: States may use their own funds to supplement Federal benefits or to provide coupons to non-WIC populations, such as the elderly or disabled. A number of states and ITOs develop nutrition education materials geared to produce consumption and many farmers' market vendors provide storage and handling instructions or recipes to help WIC participants effectively utilize unfamiliar fruits and vegetables. Deadlines: FMNP state plans are due to FNS regional offices by November 30 each year. There are no deadlines that apply directly to FMNP participants, but the program generally operates between the months of April and October, depending on the regional climate and growing season. Contacts: The program is directly managed in each state or Indian Tribal Organization by an agency of state or tribal government. However, national information can be obtained through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service: Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service-USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302 Phone: (703) 305-2730; http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/CONTENT/farmers/farm.htm National Director: Patrica N. Daniels, (703) 305-2746 The National Directory of Farmers' Markets, which includes information on WIC participation, can be obtained on the Web at www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets or by calling 800-384-8704. Also contact: National Association of Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 901, Washington, DC 20036; phone: (202) 331-7950; fax: (202) 331-7933; E-mail: zw@nafmnp.org Website: http://www.nafmnp.org/ The National School Lunch Program Why This Resource Is Useful: The National School Lunch Program ensures that all American children receive a nutritious meal at school, each school day. It provides nutrition education in the classroom, and opportunities for children to practice the nutrition skills they learn. Eligibility: People. Any child, regardless of family income, can obtain a nutritious meal at a school participating in the National School Lunch Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 185 percent of the Federal poverty line are eligible for reduced-price meals. Children from families with income levels at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible to receive free meals. Description: The school lunch program provides nutritionally balanced low-cost or free lunches to more than 27 million children each school day. More than 95,000 public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions participate. School districts and independent schools that choose to take part in the lunch program get cash subsidies and donated commodity foods from USDA for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve lunches that meet Federal nutrition standards, and they must offer free or reduced-price lunches to eligible children. Reimbursable lunches must meet the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and provide one-third of the Recommended Daily Allowances for protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and calories. All meals are eligible for reimbursement; USDA pays the highest rate of reimbursement for meals served to children who qualify for free meal benefits. Best Practices: The school food service in Hawthorne, CA, goes the extra mile to make sure every student is provided the best nutritional choices. The school food service knows that all the hard work put into student taste panels, special events, and greater healthy food selections will not be effective if children do not believe that the quality of the meals offered is high. Marketing of school meals is a priority, and a key to the success of the Hawthorne School District's food service program. Participation has been rising as students indulge in healthy, great-tasting meals that reflect their own tastes and preferences. The school district has improved customer service and access with electronic points of sale and a family-centered enrollment process. Deadlines:</