Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Our primary target audiences include SNAP participants and local food producers in Montana. This project also specifically seeks to better engage partners in Native American communities and people living in rural central and eastern Montana as we grow into a state-wide network. SNAP Participants were primarily reached at the point of sale, by advertising Double SNAP Dollar (DSD) nutrition incentives at farmers markets, CSA programs, and increasingly, in retail stores. According to our most recent evaluation report from the University of Montana, 43.9% of participants heard about DSD at the point of sale, with 28.4% learning through friends and family, 12.2% from online outreach, and 12.9% learning from Offices of Public Assistance and other social services. Additional outreach was extended to central and eastern Montana through partnerships in Bozeman and Billings, MT and in Tribal communities in the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Fort Peck, Blackfeet, and Flathead Indian Reservations, and in consultation with the Little Shell Chippewa Cree who are located in Great Falls, MT, but do not have sovereign land or a Reservation. During this period, the project focused on in-person outreach in Tribal communities, and all of the Tribes/Reservations listed above (with the exception of the Little Shell) were physically visited as part of relationship-building initiatives. A two day immersion retreat was completed for our Network Steering Committee on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations, where Native guides hired through Native Nexus Consulting arranged for meetings with local food access and food sovereignty organizations and visits to eligible firm partner locations to create lasting relationships for DSD development in Crow and Northern Cheyenne communities. The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux community also invited the project to present about DSD at the annual Fort Peck Food Sovereignty Day, the first time a Native-led initiative has amplified the project to their own community to increase participation and recruit new eligible firms. As a result of this dedicated outreach, the Fort Peck community now has the State's highest performing firm at the Wolf Point, MT., Albertsons. Also, FAST Blackfeet, a Native-led nonprofit serving the Blackfeet Reservation was formally contracted to be the project's fourth Spoke organization in our Hub and Spoke model, marking the first contracted Native-led organization to implement DSD in their community. CFAC continued to strengthen partnerships and referrals with our State government through Montana WIC, the Senior Long Term Care and Aging Division, and Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion Bureaus at MT DPHHS. These relationships have led to long-term program development, referral services, and collaboration with our State government and their communication channels to Montanans using food assistance programs. DSD materials were provided to clients served by Montana SNAP in the Office of Public Instruction's newsletters, through Montana State University Nutrition Educators in 7 counties, and through a brochure marketing campaign to Montana's food pantry network, WIC local agency clinics, and Offices of Public Instruction. Local producers are reached through the Montana Farmers Market Network, CFAC's Local Food and Farm Passport event, CFAC's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program, the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and the Local Food for Local Families Coalition building Montana's Farm to Food Bank initiative. Changes/Problems:Though the last year saw community innovation, new partnerships, and overall program growth, several challenges still create barriers to seamless program operation. The COVID-19 pandemic emergency may be winding down, but long-term pandemic related factors still impact our projects on a regular basis, including tourism, redetermination of benefit eligibility, and elevated costs of food due to inflation. Additional challenges include turnover at the firm level, and long-term economic impact that increases burden on small producers and vendors. Major challenges slowing the growth of our network of firms is mostly due to challenges and barriers in the SNAP retailer authorization. Many farmers markets in Montana are quite small, serving rural, diffuse populations. Many of these markets that our network identified as future partners in Central and Eastern Montana do not have enough food vendors to qualify as a SNAP retailer, so although interest in SNAP and DSD is high, markets might still not be able to participate until more food and produce vendors are recruited to their markets. As a result focus remains on brick and mortar partners in these small rural communities, and the project team is working to create meaningful and tangible steps to assist these retailers in sourcing a higher percentage of local foods. A final challenge is extending our participant evaluation to all new DSD sites. In the last project period, at least five Albertsons stores in Montana issued the DSD participant evaluation to customers as a QR code directly on their sales receipt. Staff were trained to circle this QR code and highlight the $10 stipend for completion. Implementing the evaluation at these firms was highly anticipated due to the high level of Native Americans served by these stores. However, zero participants responded to this opportunity and the project team is looking into reasons for this low rate of return and how to improve participant evaluation recruitment at our brick and mortar firms. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?NTAE-led GusNIP-specific opportunities attended include: Local Sourcing Community of Practice (COP), Brick and Mortar COP, Participant Engagement Learning Cohort (PELC), Members of the project team also attended conferences, trainings, and webinars. Conferences include USDA PD meeting in New Orleans, Rural Grocery Summit in Kentucky, Arlee Food Sovereignty Summit, Fort Peck Food Sovereignty Day, Montana Organic Association (MOA), Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) Expo, Montana Nonprofit Association Annual Conference, the Montana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MTAND) Annual Conference, and the Diversify Dietetics Summit. Webinars include: Local Food Marketplace informational webinar for Online SNAP, multiple Farm Bill updates, Empowering Dietitians as Experts and Citizens; Centering Indigenous Knowledge Webinar Series (8) through MT Campus Compact, Empowering Patients through Trauma-Informed Nutrition Education Workshop, NIFA Food and Nutrition Security Webinar Series: Promoting Indigenous Food Sovereignty; NIFA Food and Nutrition Security Webinar Series: Promoting Youth Voice. Professional licensure through the Montana Board of Medical Examiners, credential maintenance through the Commission on Dietetic Registration, didactic opportunities for dietetic interns through the Montana State University program, and professional development and continuing education credit requirements were supported by this project for the on-staff Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project results are primarily communicated to interested stakeholders through CFAC's network in Montana and our statewide Steering Committee composed of 12 local food, health and wellness, and producer organizations. Each of these organizations also shares project results with their staff and members. Annual impact reports are shared directly with 1,882 CFAC members at the end of each year. Each year annual results are shared back to individual participating firms during annual program training and contract signings. Aggregated results are shared at annual networking meetings. For the first time in 2024, evaluation findings were translated into a one page laminated report that was sent to all firms to present aggregate findings at the POS for participant access. Results are shared to the public at conferences and other meetings. In 2024 results were shared at the USDA PD meeting in New Orleans, Rural Grocery Summit in Kentucky, Arlee Food Sovereignty Summit, Fort Peck Food Sovereignty Day, Montana Organic Association (MOA), Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) Expo, Montana Nonprofit Association Annual Conference, and the Montana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MTAND) Annual Conference, and Montana's SNAP-ed annual conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, CFAC and our partners plan to maintain the existing network of firms in our final grant year, remaining steadfast in support of Rural and Tribal communities in Montana. Seven new brick and mortar stores are planned to begin offering DSD in Q1 of FY25, bringing total active firms to 47. This growth stems from a new partnership with Associated Food Stores (AFS), a retailers cooperative that supports over 450 independent stores through distribution and POS technology. In this past year, CFAC worked with AFS to identify which stores were suited to host NI programming with existing technology solutions, coded UPCs eligible for GusNIP, and began implementation in November 2024. The project team has learned that independent grocers often rely on their distributors for POS technology, and working with distributors in lieu of individual stores offers a pathway toward increased adoption of NI programming in independent stores. Support will continue for the project's newest Spoke Organization, FAST Blackfeet, who currently serves in an outreach and extension capacity to refer their clients to DSD firms serving the Blackfeet Reservation. FAST is also a Produce Prescription operator, but stores that offer PPR differ from stores offering DSD, and the project team will work to harmonize these stores to increase access to DSD for the Blackfeet community. Additionally, a local store on the Fort Peck Reservation has been proposed by partners in Poplar, MT, and the project team will work to build relationships with this community in preparation for a future GusNIP proposal. Finally, the DSD Network seeks to share program and equity outcomes through published manuscripts in this final year. A manuscript showcasing program growth and impact is currently being vetted by multiple peer-reviewed journals, and an Equity Case Study highlighting initiatives and strategies of our project is forthcoming.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Impact Statement: In the fourth year of our GusNIP Project, DSD provided nutrition incentives to 1,705 participants at 40 locations, including 22 farmers markets, 7 CSA/farm stand programs, and 11 retail grocery stores, across 22 counties in Montana. All combined, DSD participants redeemed $7,438,600 in SNAP benefits and $132,960 in DSD incentives at participating locations. The high SNAP redemptions are largely accounted for by our grocery store partners. Across our Farm Direct firms, farmers and farmers markets redeemed $101,124 in SNAP and $76,502 in DSD, representing $177,626 in local foods purchased by DSD participants, and $230,914 return to the local food economy with a 1.3 economic multiplier effect according to the Nutrition Incentive Hub's economic impact calculator. This represents a 42% growth in incentive redemptions across our network of firms. Out of the total incentives issued vs earned, farm direct sites saw a 93.8% redemption rate, with brick and mortar sites much lower at a 22.62% redemption rate.We increased impact in rural areas through in-person visits to partnering communities, building Tribal partnerships, and through careful selection of new retailers using our Equity Decision Matrix tool. Goal 1: Objective 1: During this grant period we continued to focus on sustaining an existing network of firms while developing new partnerships to reach our targeted communities. In 2024 our team provided SNAP retailer technical assistance for 8 firms and DSD retailer training to 25 prospective firms. Out of this effort we added nine new firms to our DSD network, including six new brick and mortar stores, two farm stand/CSA programs, and one farmers market. Since the beginning of our project, 49 SNAP retailers have offered DSD at their business, and 40 operated during this project period. This year also welcomed FAST Blackfeet as the fourth Spoke in our Hub and Spoke Network, providing outreach and implementation for the Blackfeet Reservation. Together, the 40 firms in our network generated a 35% increase in tracked local food sales since project inception in 2020. Goal 1 Objective 2: Out of 148 customers surveyed in our last evaluation report, 98% reported that participating in DSD increased the amount of fruits and vegetables they consumed. A further 97.3% reported eating an increased variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Goal 2: Objective 1: During this project period we added nine firms to the DSD network. Of these, one firm serves the Blackfeet Reservation, six are located in Central and Eastern Montana, and six are brick and mortar grocery stores, all of which increase equity and access in our portfolio. Goal 2 Objective 2: Of the nine firms added during this project period, one is specifically designed to reach Montana's rural and Native communities, for a total of four new sites directly serving native communities. Goal 2 Objective 3: Lessons learned through our work with Tribal and rural partners were shared at several conferences, including Fort Peck Food Sovereignty Day, The Rural Grocery Summit (KY), the GusNIP PD Meeting, and in the NTAE's Local Sourcing Cohort, B&M COP, and Participant Engagement Learning Collaborative (PELC). A case study looking deeper at equity in this project is currently in development. Goal 3: Objective 1: 1,705 SNAP shoppers used DSD during this period, a 3% increase. Goal 3 Objective 2: Project staff updated marketing materials created in 2021 including firm-specific posters and handbills, regional brochures, and postcards. These marketing resources are uploaded to our website (www.doubledollarsmt.com) and made available to program partners to streamline marketing and outreach. The project continued direct mailings of postcards to neighborhoods in new firm locations, and provided bulk materials to local WIC agencies, Offices of Public Assistance, Montana Food Bank Network pantries, and Native wellness centers. Goal 3 Objective 3: In 2024, our program continued to develop our partnership with Montana State University Extension Buy Eat Live Better Program (SNAP-ed and EFNEP). Nutrition Educators provided 358 $10 DSD coupons to participants who attended their classes as an additional incentive to both attend the class and shop at the farmers market. Of these, 67 coupons were redeemed. This was the first year participants earned DSD coupons for attending virtual courses to use at their local farmers market, expanding the reach of nutrition education to participants living in counties where in-person classes were not available. Goal 4 Objective 1: The DSD Network continued to host an Equity Library for our members, use an Equity Decision Matrix for firm recruitment, and include an Equity Commitment in our MOUs. This year the project also hosted an immersion learning trip for our Steering Committee to the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations. Goal 4 Objective 2: Work toward developing NI projects on Montana's Indian Reservations and with our state's Tribal Nations continues.While our Native partners still express more desire for PPR programs, interest is building for NI projects with DSD firms now serving 4 out of 8 Reservation communities, and FAST Blackfeet contracted as a Spoke Operator and serving on our Steering Committee. Goal 4 Objective 3: A written case study on our equity initiatives is in development. Goal 1 Activities: CFAC continues to collect all required and stated metrics. This progress is reported in the Impact Statement at the beginning of this section. The project is currently updating the method of tracking individual participants to align with FNS policy Goal 2 Activities: The Equity Decision Matrix developed in 2021 was updated this year and continues to be used to prioritize recruitment for firm inclusion. TA was provided to potential DSD locations, with 9 new retailers joining our DSD program during this project period. Program staff provided TA to markets hoping to join our program. This TA consisted of support for the SNAP retailer application, POS integration and scrip design, technology funding and grants, incentive management systems, marketing and outreach. Goal 3 Activities: CFAC continues to host the state's DSD website and online marketing resource database for partners. Collaboration includes a mailing campaign to local WIC agencies, Offices of Public Assistance, pantries of the Montana Food Bank Network, and Tribal health clinics. Twice yearly trainings with SNAP-ed instructors continue to support SNAP-ed participants and the project team is working in partnership with this program to increase redemption of SNAP-ed coupons and DSD incentives at farmers markets. Goal 4 Activities: The DSD Network continues to host an Equity Resource Library for our steering committee members. During this project period, project staff worked with a consultant, Native Nexus, to host a two-day immersion learning initiative for network members on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations, where food insecurity rates are the highest in Montana. While Native Nexus was originally contracted to help design a Tribal Engagement Plan, this work ultimately transpired in real-world experiences to engage network members in building a deeper understanding of context and opportunity in Montana's Native communities. A short case study that includes the most salient lessons is in development.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Our primary target audiences include SNAP participants and local food producers in Montana. This project also specifically seeks to better engage partners in Native American communities and in central and eastern Montana as we grow into a state-wide network. SNAP Participants were primarily reached by offering Double SNAP Dollar (DSD) nutrition incentives at farmers markets, CSA programs, and increasingly, in retail stores. Additional outreach was extended to central and eastern Montana through partnerships in Bozeman and Billings, MT and in Tribal communities in the Fort Peck, Blackfeet, and Flathead Indian Reservations. During this period, a committee was formed to plan an immersion trip for our Steering Committee and strategic partners to the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations in the final year of the grant. CFAC made considerable partnerships with our State government through Montana WIC, the Senior Long Term Care and Aging Division, and Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion Bureau at MT DPHHS. These relationships have led to long-term program development, referral services, and collaboration with our State government and their communication channels to Montanans using their programs. DSD materials were provided to clients served by Montana SNAP in the Office of Public Instruction's newsletters, through Montana State University Nutrition Educators in 8 counties, and through a brochure marketing campaign to additional WIC offices and Offices of Public Instruction to provide to their clients. Recently CFAC entered into a contract with our State DPHHS to coordinate the State's Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). This program serves an additional 1700 income-eligible seniors and offers a new direct communications channel for our primary audience-SNAP customers. Local producers are reached through the farmers markets, CFAC's Local Food and Farm Passport event, CFAC's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program, and through organizational partnerships. Additional producer outreach through Tribal programs at partner organizations including Hopa Mountain, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Health, and Nakoda Aaniiih Economic Development Corporation are being planned. Changes/Problems:Though the last year saw community innovation, new partnerships, and overall program growth, several challenges still create barriers to seamless program operation. The COVID-19 pandemic emergency may be winding down, but long-term pandemic related factors still impact our projects on a regular basis, including tourism, redetermination of benefit eligibility, and elevated costs of food due to inflation. Additional challenges include turnover at the firm level, long-term economic impact that increases burden on small producers and vendors. Major challenges slowing the growth of our network of firms is mostly due to challenges and barriers in the SNAP retailer authorization. Many farmers markets in Montana are quite small, serving rural, diffuse populations. Many of these markets that our network identified as future partners in Central and Eastern Montana do not have enough food vendors to qualify as a SNAP retailer, so although interest in SNAP and DSD is high, markets might still not be able to participate until more food and produce vendors are recruited to their markets. As a result more focus is being placed on brick and mortar partners in these small rural communities. The final challenge is finding customers. Once small markets are successful in obtaining a SNAP permit, it is still a challenge to recruit the requisite number of SNAP customers to the market to have a robust program. The project piloted a direct mail postcard campaign in 2023 that will be continued in 2024 to gauge overall success of direct mailings. Finally, for our work with our Tribal partners, challenges persist around long term historic relationships with the USDA and federal food support programs. While many of the relationships our Network has built express interest in DSD, these partners are overall more suited to produce prescription projects and our program will continue to support these initiatives while we seek common ground over SNAP matching programs. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?NTAE-led GusNIP-specific opportunities attended include: Local Sourcing Community of Practice (COP), Third Party Evaluators COP, Brick and Mortar COP, and Participant Engagement Learning Cohort (PELC). Members of the project team also attended conferences, trainings, and webinars. Conferences include Nutrition Incentive Hub's Statewide MiniConvening in Philadelphia, USDA Community Food Projects conference in Washington, D.C., Arlee Food Sovereignty Summit, Montana Organic Association (MOA), Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) Expo, MSU Extension Buy Eat Live Better Program, Montana Nonprofit Association, Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger (MT-PECH, Share Our Strengths), Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MTAAP), and Montana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MTAND) Trainings include Montana Farmers Market Network (MTFMN) meeting and three subsequent Peer Learning sessions, Common Good Missoula's Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization and Fundamentals of Leadership in Organizing, University of Montana's Grant Writing Essentials, Webinars include: Local Food Marketplace informational webinar, Building More Equitable SNAP-ed Collaborations (3 parts), The Farmers' Truck Mobile Markets, 2023 Racial Equity Challenge, The Challenge and Promise of Food is Medicine, NTAE Economic Impact Calculator, Farm Bill for NI Practitioners, CAIANDR Evaluation in Native Communities. Professional licensure through the Montana Board of Medical Examiners, credentialing through the Commission on Dietetic Registration, didactic opportunities for dietetic interns through the Montana State University program, and continuing education credit requirements were supported by this project for the on-staff Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project results are primarily communicated to interested stakeholders through CFAC's network in Montana and our statewide Steering Committee composed of 12 local food, health and wellness, and producer organizations. Each of these organizations also shares project results with their staff and members. Annual impact reports are shared directly with 1,882 CFAC members at the end of each year. Each year annual results are shared back to individual participating firms during annual program training and contract signings. Aggregated results are shared at annual networking meetings. Results are shared to the public at conferences and other meetings. In 2023 results were shared at the Montana Farmers Market Networking Meeting, Montana State University Extension SNAP-Ed Conference, Nutrition Incentive Hub Statewide Mini Convening, USDA CFP Annual Conference, Montana Organic Association Conference, Arlee Food Sovereignty Day, Hopa Mountain's Local Food Summit, and at two invited guest lectures at University of Montana. Press releases are issued at the beginning of the season, when new funding is obtained, and when CFAC onboards a new firm What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, CFAC and our partners plan a large expansion in firms in Rural and Tribal communities in Montana leveraging our new partnership with Albertsons and IGA stores in Montana. Seven new Albertsons stores are planned to begin offering DSD in January and February of 2024 and two IGA stores are working through their program specifics to determine best match rates and marketing plans. The IGA stores are also investigating needed POS upgrades for automated benefit issuance and redemption. To increase partnership and support for Native American communities, CFAC will recruit and train an Tribally-led DSD Network Spoke organization to steward relationships with firms being developed near the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. A new partnership with the projects first Hutterite Community has also led to the first SNAP-authorized Hutterite Colony in Montana, which will be joining the DSD program in the next reporting period. CFAC hopes to reach additional Hutterite communities through this initial partnership. Best program models are under review with Albertsons firm locations. Currently models being tested include a digital loyalty account and also paper receipt generated coupons for benefit issuance and redemption. Models will be finalized in 2024. Methods to increase redemption rates at Albertsons stores, especially those with a paper receipt generated coupon will be reviewed for lower than expected issuance and redemption rates.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Impact:In the third year of our GusNIP Project, DSD provided nutrition incentives to 1,659 participants at 35 locations, including 24 farmers markets, 7 CSA/farm stand programs, and 4 retail grocery stores, across 18 counties in Montana. All combined, DSD participants redeemed $2,106,680 in SNAP benefits and $93,481.88 in Double SNAP incentives at our DSD locations. The large jump in SNAP redemptions over FY22 is due to inclusion of SNAP data from our new network of Albertsons stores. Looking more closely at our farm direct locations, participants redeemed $104,576 in SNAP benefits and $81,204 in DSD directly on local foods. This is a total of $185,780 returned to the local food system ($241,514 with a 1.3 economic multiplier) This represents a 9% decrease in SNAP sales but 7% growth in incentive redemption at farm direct firmsand 23% growth in incentive redemptions overall. Out of the total incentives issued vs earned, farm direct sites saw a 95% redemption rate, with brick and mortar sites much lower with an 18% redemption rate at Albertsons stores. We increased impact in rural areas through a SNAP Fresh Foods food box program, Tribal partnerships, 4 rural CSA programs, and a new partnership with Albertsons. Our Steering Committee made strides towards increasing equity by utilizing our Equity Decision Matrix for our recruitment efforts and by fostering new relationships with Tribally-led organizations. We developed new partnerships for increased direct marketing to SNAP participants through partnerships with the Montana Food Bank Network, Montana State Department of Public Health and Human Services, and Montana WIC.Goal 1: Objective 1: During this grant period we continued to focus on sustaining an existing network of firms while developing new partnerships to reach our targeted communities. In 2023 our team provided 43.75 hours of technical assistance to markets and farms applying for SNAP retailer authorization and to participate in our DSD program. Out of this effort we added four new firms to our DSD network, including three new brick and mortar retailers and one farmers market. An additional 6 firms were provided with SNAP retailer authorization TA and hope to participate in DSD in FY24. Since the beginning of our project, 40 SNAP retailers have offered DSD at their business, though only 35 operated during this budget period. Together, those 35 firms experienced a 58% increase in tracked local food sales since project inception in 2020. Goal 1 Objective 2: Out of 95 customers surveyed during this project period, 92% reported that participating in DSD increased the amount of fruits and vegetables they consumed. A further 93% reported eating an increased variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Goal 2: Objective 1: During this project period we added four new firms to our network. Of these, two firms are located on Native American Reservations, three in Central and Eastern Montana, and three are brick and mortar grocery stores, all of which increase equity in our portfolio. Six other potential Central Montana firms are currently receiving TA for SNAP retailer authorization to participate in the DSD program. Goal 2 Objective 2: Of the four firms added during this project period, three are specifically designed to reach Montana's rural and Native communities, where no farmers markets exist, or where access to farmers markets is limited. Goal 2 Objective 3: Lessons learned through our work with Tribal and rural partners were shared at several conferences, including the Nutrition Incentive Hub Statewide Mini-Conveningg in Philadelphia and the GusNIP Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The primary learning outcome continues to be that PPR is a better fit for Montana's Tribalcommunities. An additional lesson from FY23 is that outreach strategies targeting rural Native Americans should include urban centers as many community members commute to urban centers for health care and shopping, and those living in urban centers often bring information home to their rural communities. . Goal 3: Objective 1: 1,659 SNAP shoppers used DSD in 2023, a 26% increase over 2022. Possible reasons for this increase include our expansion of firms and an overall increase in people moving to Montana. Goal 3 Objective 2: Our network continued to use the updated suite of marketing materials created in 2021 including posters, handbills, draft press releases, and a social media toolkit. These marketing resources are uploaded to our website (www.doubledollarsmt.com) and made available to program partners to streamline marketing and outreach. Deepening partnerships at the State level broadened our outreach initiatives to include direct mailings to WIC clinics, Offices of Public Assistance, and the Montana Food Bank Network pantries. For the first time, the project issued a direct postcard outreach campaign to targeted neighborhoods near new brick and mortar firms. Goal 3 Objective 3: In 2023, our program continued to develop our partnership with Montana State University Extension Buy Eat Live Better Program (SNAP-ed and EFNEP). Nutrition Educators provided 387 $10 DSD coupons to 118 participants who attended their classes as an additional incentive to both attend the class and shop at the farmers market. Of these, 120 coupons were redeemed. Goal 4 Objective 1: The DSD Networked continued to host an Equity Library for our members. We implemented an updated Equity Matrix that ranked proposed Albertsons stores based on community demographics to filter our store recruitment to target Native American communities in Montana. Additionally our Network finalized an Equity Statement that all firm partners sign as part of their contract review process. Goal 4 Objective 2: Work toward developing NI projects on Montana's Indian Reservations and with our state's Tribal Nations continues.While our Native partners still express more desire for PPR programs, interest is building for NI projects with DSD firms now operating on 3 out of 8 Reservations. This year our staff discussed DSD with representatives from Confederated Salish and Kootenai, Blackfeet, Nakoda and Aaniiih, Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux, and Crow and Northern Cheyenne Tribes. Goal 4 Objective 3: A written case study is planned for year 4 of our project, however, this year our project provided a presentation of our Network's progress toward racial equity and governance at the the Nutrition Incentive Hub Statewide Mini Convening and at the USDA Community Food Project conference in Washington, D.C.Goal 1 Activities: CFAC continues to collect all required and stated metrics. This progress is reported in the Impact Statement at the beginning of this section. Goal 2 Activities:The Equity Decision Matrix developed in 2021 continues to be used to prioritize recruitment for retailer inclusion. TA was provided to potential DSD locations, with 4 retailers joining our DSD program by the end of the project period. Program staff provided 22.5 hours of TA to markets hoping to join our program. This TA consisted of support for the SNAP retailer application, POS integration and scrip design, technology funding and grants, incentive management systems, marketing and outreach. Goal 3 Activities: CFAC continues to host the state's DSD website and online marketing resource database for partners. Collaboration includes a mail campaign to local WIC offices, Offices of Public Assistance, and pantries of the Montana Food Bank Network. The Marketing Subcommittee wrapped up its meetings with the finalization of our marketing plan, and will meet annually to review and update marketing strategies each year. Goal 4 Activities: The Equity Subcommittee finalized our Equity Commitment and put it into action in 2023. All partners distributing Double SNAP Dollars are provided the Equity Statement when joining the program. The design of the Equity Action Plan is slated for 2023/2024 in partnership with consulting firm Native Nexus.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Our primary target audiences include SNAP participants and local food producers in Montana. This project also specifically seeks to better engage partners in Native American communities and in central and eastern Montana as we grow into a state-wide network. SNAP Participants were primarily reached by offering Double SNAP Dollar (DSD) nutrition incentives at farmers markets, CSA programs, retail stores, and a delivered Fresh Food Box program. Additional outreach was extended to central and eastern Montana through partnerships in Bozeman and Billings, MT and in Tribal communities in the Fort Peck, Blackfeet, and Flathead Indian Reservations. CFAC made considerable partnerships with our State government through Montana WIC, the Senior Long Term Care and Aging Division, and Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion Bureau at MT DPHHS. These relationships have led to long-term program development, referral services, and collaboration with our State government and their communication channels to Montanans using their programs. Double SNAP Dollars materials were provided to clients served by Montana SNAP in the Office of Public Instruction's newsletters, through Montana State University Nutrition Educators in 8 counties, and through a brochure marketing campaign to additional WIC offices and Offices of Public Instruction to provide to their clients. Recently CFAC entered into a contract with our State DPHHS to coordinate the State's Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). This program serves an additional 1700 SNAP-eligible seniors and offers a new direct communications channel for our primary audience-SNAP customers. Local producers are reached through the farmers markets, CFAC's Local Food and Farm Passport event, CFAC's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program, and through organizational partnerships. Additional producer outreach through Tribal programs at partner organizations including Hopa Mountain, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Health, and Nakoda Aaniiih Economic Development Corporation are being planned. Changes/Problems:Though the last year saw community innovation, new partnerships, and overall program growth, several challenges still create barriers to seamless program operation. The COVID-19 pandemic emergency may be winding down, but long-term pandemic related factors still impact our projects on a regular basis. These challenges include turnover at the firm level as market managers resettle after the pandemic, long-term economic impact that increases burden on small producers and vendors, and shopper patterns and habits changing due to perceived risk to health in public spaces. Major challenges slowing the growth of our network of firms is mostly due to challenges and barriers in the SNAP retailer authorization. Many farmers markets in Montana are quite small, serving rural, diffuse populations. Many of these markets that our network identified as future partners in Central and Eastern Montana do not have enough food vendors to qualify as a SNAP retailer, so although interest in SNAP and DSD is high, markets might still not be able to participate until more food and produce vendors are recruited to their markets. For potential retail firms, challenges include existing POS integration that is difficult with incentive systems. Two new retail partners applied and were approved to accept SNAP, but soon learned that their new POS systems would not integrate with SNAP EBT. As new stores, running multiple POS systems to accommodate SNAP EBT was not realistic at this time. More financial support for SNAP EBT technology in the retail setting would help support these retailers in implementing SNAP EBT programs through their POS systems. The final challenge is finding customers. Once small markets are successful in obtaining a SNAP permit, it is still a challenge to recruit the requisite number of SNAP customers to the market to have a robust program. Additional effort to support markets in their recruitment of customers will be required to see successful markets in Montana's rural communities. Finally, for our work with our Tribal partners, challenges exist around long term historic relationships with the USDA and federal food support programs. While many of the relationships our Network has built express interest in DSD, these partners are more suited to produce prescription projects and our program will continue to support these initiatives while we seek common ground over SNAP matching programs. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Members of the project team have attended several conferences, including the Nutrition Incentive Hub's Annual Convening, 5th Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition, Fort Peck Food Sovereignty Day, annual meetings of the Montana Organic Association, Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), MSU Extension SNAP-ed Program, Montana Nonprofit Association, and Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger. Combined with opportunities from the National Farmers Market Coalition, the project team attended 16 webinars focused on local foods, nutrition incentives, produce prescriptions, and racial equity. Project team members also attended several conferences including the Montana Organic Association (MOA), Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO, where we presented on our state policy approach), and of course the GusNIP PD meeting and Nutrition Incentive Hub Annual Gathering. CFAC is a member of Common Good Missoula, who sponsors a decolonization workshop led by indigenous leaders called "Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization." Two project staff are currently enrolled in the workshop series. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project results are primarily communicated to interested stakeholders through CFAC's network in Montana and our statewide Steering Committee composed of 11 local food, health and wellness, and producer organizations. Each of these organizations also shares project results with their staff and members. Annual reports are shared directly with 1,760 CFAC members at the end of each year. Press releases are issued at the beginning of the season, when new funding is obtained, and when we onboard a new firm. Each year annual results are shared back to individual participating markets during annual program training and contract signings. Aggregated results are shared through annual networking meetings and through careful relationships Results are shared in-person at conferences and other meetings. In 2022 results were shared through the Montana Farmers Market Networking Meeting, Montana State University Extension SNAP-Ed Conference, Nutrition Incentive Hub Annual Gathering, Montana Great Beginnings, Great Families Conference, and 5th Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, CFAC and our partners plan to strengthen our network by refining our standard operating procedures and goals to ensure we 1) support existing and newly onboarded firms and create sustainability for ongoing program operation, 2) refocus our efforts on outreach and recruitment in rural and Tribal communities in Central and Eastern Montana by drafting a Tribal Engagement Plan with Native Nexus, 3) Explore relationships with larger retail chains that might be able to serve our priority areas of the state where customers experience food desert conditions with a lack of access to farmers markets, direct marketing farmers, and other local food access points. An alternative plan for limited access areas is to increase our partnerships with Montana's Hutterite communities that farm in Central Montana along the "Hi-Line". We provided TA to support Montana's first SNAP-authorized Hutterite Colony and CFAC intends to further explore how these communities can support our food access projects across the state. Overall, non farmers market opportunities need to be identified to support communities in Eastern and Central Montana where farmers markets and produce farms may not exist. As our network grows and diversifies we also seek to represent this diversity on our DSD Network Steering Committee. To better engage eligible participants CFAC will continue to nurture relationships with other food access stakeholders including Montana WIC agencies, Agencies on Aging and Senior Centers, and food pantries, to increase referral services and access new populations of eligible participants.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Impact Statement: In the second year of our GusNIP Project, DSD provided nutrition incentives to 1,312 participants at 29 locations, including 19 farmers markets, 6 CSA/farm direct programs, 2 retail grocery stores, and two food box programs, across 16 counties in Montana. All combined, our programs served 1,312 SNAP customers who spent $114,974 in SNAP benefits and $75,952 in Double SNAP incentives at our DSD locations. This is a total of $190,926 returned to the local food system. This represents a 19.76 growth in SNAP sales and a 4% growth in incentive redemption over 2021. We increased impact in rural areas through a SNAP Fresh Foods food box program, Tribal partnerships, and 4 new rural CSA programs. Our Steering Committee made strides towards increasing equity by developing an Equity Decision Matrix for our recruitment efforts and by fostering new relationships with Tribally-led organizations. We developed new partnerships for increased direct marketing to SNAP participants through partnerships with the Montana Food Bank Network and Montana State Department of Public Health and Human Services. Goal 1: Objective 1: During this grant period we continued to focus on sustaining existing network of firms while developing new partnerships to reach our targeted communities. In 2022 our team provided 104.5 hours of technical assistance to markets and farms applying for SNAP retailer authorization to participate in our DSD program. Out of this effort we added seven new markets to our DSD network, including two new farmers markets and five CSA programs. An additional 3 markets attained SNAP retailer authorization and hope to participate in DSD in 2023. Since the beginning of our project, 36 SNAP retailers have offered DSD at their business, though only 28 operated during this project period. Together, those 28 firms experienced a 13% increase in local food sales over the previous year and a 45% increase in local foods since project inception in 2020. Goal 1 Objective 2: Out of 133 customers surveyed during this project period, 86.6% reported that participating in DSD increased the amount of fruits and vegetables they consumed. A further 89% reported eating an increased variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Goal 2: Objective 1: During this project period we added seven new firms to our network. Of these, three firms-Livingston Farmers Market, Harlo Farmers Market, and Good Mama Farm are in Central Montana, where there were no DSD locations at the start of this project. Six other potential Central Montana firms are currently receiving TA for SNAP retailer authorization to participate in the DSD program. Goal 2 Objective 2: Of the nine firms added during this project period, four are farm direct CSA programs serving rural communities in Western Montana, where no farmers market exist, or where access to farmers markets is limited. Goal 2 Objective 3: Lessons learned through our work with Tribal and rural partners were shared at several conferences, including the Nutrition Incentive Hub annual gathering in January, the GusNIP recruitment webinar on April 16th. The primary learning outcome of our work with Tribal communities thus far is that PPR is a better fit for these communities at first. If our program can adequately support their food sovereignty efforts through this lens, we hope that the partnerships may grow to include SNAP-matching initiatives as well. Goal 3: Objective 1: 1,312 SNAP shoppers used DSD in 2022, a 18% decrease over 2020 pandemic levels. Possible reasons for this decrease include increased usage of food banks and a reduction in overall SNAP enrollment in Montana by 22.7% during the same time period. Goal 3 Objective 2: Our network continued to use the updated suite of marketing materials created in 2021 including posters, handbills, draft press releases, and a social media toolkit. These marketing resources are uploaded to a new website (www.doubledollarsmt.com) and made available to program partners to streamline marketing and outreach.. Further partnerships at the State level broadened our outreach initiatives to include direct mailings to WIC clinics, Offices of Public Assistance, and the Montana Food Bank Network. Goal 3 Objective 3: In 2022, our program continued to develop our partnership with Montana State University Extension SNAP-ed Program. Nutrition Educators provided 339 $10 DSD coupons to participants who attended their classes as an additional incentive to both attend the class and shop at the farmers market. Of these, 85 coupons were redeemed by 71participants. Goal 4 Objective 1: The DSD Networked continued to host an Equity Library for our members. We implemented an Equity Matrix that ranked proposed firms based on community demographics to filter our outreach to target Native American communities in Montana. Additionally our Network built an Equity Statement that all firm partners sign as part of their onboarding process. Goal 4 Objective 2: While some form of work is progressing in five of eight of Montana's federally recognized Tribal Nations, it is clear that produce prescription and other "food as medicine" programs are a better fit for our Tribal partners. Two of them, the Tribal Health Department of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (Flathead Reservation), FAST (Food Access and Sustainability Team) Blackfeet (Blackfeet Reservation) have become funded partners in investigating nutrition incentives through PPR programs. We hope ongoing partnership in support of their food sovereignty initiatives will garner long term partnership for our SNAP matching program, as well. Members of FAST Blackfeet and All Nations Health Center have joined our Steering Committees, increasing representation of indigenous leaders in our network. Goal 4 Objective 3: A written case study is planned for year 3-4 of our project, however, this year our project provided a presentation of our Network's progress toward racial equity and governance at the Nutrition Incentive Hub's Annual Gathering in January. Goal 1 Activities: CFAC continues to collect all required and stated metrics. This progress is reported in the Impact Statement at the beginning of this section. Goal 2 Activities:The Equity Decision Matrix developed in 2021 was used to prioritize recruitment for retailer inclusion. TA was provided to 31 potential DSD locations, with 9 retailers joining our DSD program by the end of the project period. Program staff provided 104.5 hours of TA to markets hoping to join our program. This TA consisted of support for the SNAP retailer application, POS integration and scrip design, technology funding and grants, and incentive management systems. Goal 3 Activities: CFAC continues to host the new DSD website and online marketing resource database for partners. In 2022 the project added two new marketing channels by building partnership with Montana DPHHS. Collaboration includes a mail campaign to local WIC offices, Offices of Public Assistance, and pantries of the Montana Food Bank Network. The Marketing Subcommittee wrapped up its meetings with the finalization of our marketing plan, and will meet annually to review and update marketing strategies each year. Goal 4 Activities: The Equity Subcommittee finalized our Equity Commitment and put it into action in 2022. All partners distributing Double SNAP Dollars are provided the Equity Statement when joining the program. The design of the Equity Action Plan is slated for 2023 in partnership with consulting firm Native Nexus.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:Our primary target audiences include SNAP participants and local food producers in Montana. This project also specifically seeks to better engage partners in Native American communities and in Central and Eastern Montana as we grow into a state-wide network. SNAP Participants were primarily reached by offering Double SNAP Dollar (DSD) nutrition incentives at farmers markets, CSA programs, retail stores, and a delivered Fresh Food Box program. We have also developed a communications plan with the State Office of Public Assistance to distribute paper and digital information directly to Offices of Public Assistance and SNAP clients about DSD. Local producers are reached through the farmers markets, our Local Food and Farm Passport event, our Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program, and through organizational partnerships. Considerable focus has also been on developing a statewide network to identify strategic priorities and partnerships. This network is guided by a steering committee composed of members representing local food, health promotion, economic development, and Native communities. It serves to guide the program and meets monthly. Changes/Problems:There are no major changes to report. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect markets and program activities. However, through innovation and collaboration we are able to continue to grow our program on the planned time frame. ? What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?While in-person training and events have been mostly cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many opportunities have been made possible through digital and remote platforms. Members of the project team have joined the Nutrition Incentive Hub's DEI, Local Sourcing, and Produce Prescription Communities of Practice. Combined with opportunities from the National Farmers Market Coalition, the project team attended 16 webinars focused on local foods, nutrition incentives, produce prescriptions, and racial equity. Project team members also attended several conferences including the Montana Organic Association (MOA), Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO, where we presented on our state policy approach), and of course the GusNIP PD meeting and Nutrition Incentive Hub Annual Gathering. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project results are communicated to interested stakeholders through statewide Steering Committee meetings involving 11 organizational partners, including local food, health and wellness, and producer organizations. Each of these organizations also shares project results with their staff and members. Within CFAC, annual program impact reports are shared with 1,720 members at the end of each year. Press releases are issued at the beginning of the season, when new funding is obtained, and when we onboard a new firm. Eight press releases were issued in 2021 garnering six local news stories, with 4 in print newspapers and 2 on live television. During the 2021 Montana Legislative Session, 100 advocates sent over 2,000 emails to members of the Montana State Legislature communicating impacts of the program in their constituencies. The communications approach successfully recruited enough support in the state legislature to pass the bill before being met by a veto from our Governor.Finally, results from the comprehensive evaluation are presented to the DSD Network and highlights are shared on our new website, on blog posts, and posted to social media. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The winter season of 2021/2022 will be spent on strategic planning for our network's sustainability and equity, with daily support for the winter farmers markets and retailers bridging the gap between growing seasons. We are in the final stages of building a new technical assistance program using Salesforce as a data management platform. This new system will facilitate the technical assistance for 10 or more markets to build out their SNAP and Double SNAP programs in 2022. We will continue to strengthen and build our Hub and Spoke operating model and diversify our Network Steering Committee through targeted recruitment and training. ?
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Double SNAP Dollars Program provided nutrition incentives to 1,935 participants at 22 farmers markets, 2 CSA programs, 2 retail grocery stores, and a food box program, across 12 counties in Montana. All combined, this represents $96,000 in SNAP sales and $73,000 in Double SNAP incentives for a total of $106,000 returned to the local food system. This represents a 20% growth over last year with an increased impact in rural areas through the food box program. Goal 1: Objective 1: DSD is offered at more sites throughout Montana. By the end of the project period, 50 outlets will offer DSD (a 50% increase over current sites) and local food sales through the program will increase by 30%. We added 1 new brick and mortar retailer, 1 farm stand, 1CSA with three pick-up points, 1 winter farmers market, and 2 food box programs with 4 pick up points. This is a total of six new programs with impact in 10 communities, bringing our program to a total of 27 outlets and two regional food box programs. Ten more markets are currently receiving technical assistance to develop programs. Objective 2: 90% of DSD customers surveyed report eating more servings and greater variety of fruits and vegetables. In our 2021 survey of DSD customers, 105 responded with 87% reporting eating more servings of fruits and vegetables and 84% reporting eating a greater variety of fruits and vegetables. Goal 2: Objective 1: At least 6 of the new DSD sites are located in Central or Eastern Montana, where there are currently no DSD sites During this project period the Double SNAP Dollars Steering Committee identified 37 new sites in Montana suitable for a Double SNAP Dollars program, with 19 proposed locations in Central and Eastern Montana. Of these 15 locations, 6 are currently receiving technical assistance and 1 has been fully onboarded for SNAP and Double SNAP Dollars.Objective 2: At least 5 of the new DSD sites are unique program models uniquely suited to serve rural and Native communities Of the 37 new sites proposed, 5 locations are Tribally owned and operated and 19 are in uniquely rural geographies. Two tribally owned operations are currently receiving technical assistance and are planned for implementation in 2022. Objective 3: Lessons learned about developing program models that serve rural and/or Native communities are shared through professional networks and listservs. The Community Food and Agriculture Coalition (CFAC) is innately collaborative when building program models, and to best learn from and share our outcomes from our work we have connected with 11 other state programs to compare and contrast approaches to working with rural and Native communities. Furthermore, CFAC builds consensus across our program partners and is developing a Growth Through Equity Decision Matrix to incorporate voices into our decision making process. This tool will be used to prioritize technical assistance for new firms to account for equity related metrics defined by our state-wide Steering Committee and Community of Practice. This tool is being developed in partnership with the Nutrition Incentive Hub and will be shared through national networks. Goal 3: Objective 1: 9,500 SNAP recipients in Montana use DSD incentives over the project period, a 35% increase over the previous 2-year period. 1,935 SNAP customers used DSD in 2021, up from 1700 in 2020, a 12% increase in year 1.Objective 2: DSD is using consistent marketing guidelines, evidenced by a central marketing platform and a suite of branding, marketing and outreach plans. Marketing of DSD was at the forefront of strategic planning in 2021, which resulted in a marketing plan, an updated suite of outreach materials including posters, handbills, draft press releases, and sample social media posts. These marketing resources are uploaded to a new website and made available to program partners to streamline marketing and outreach across our state-wide network. A new approach to marketing was also developed with the State's Office of Public Assistance (OPA). Regional brochures are disseminated directly to SNAP customers through these offices and each time a new firm opens a suite of informational materials is made available to local offices through the central State OPA.Objective 3: DSD leverages existing marketing campaigns to increase sales of local foods through the DSD program, including Montana Farm to School Harvest of the Month materials and nutrition education coupons. 40 students of MSU NEP cooking classes will use DSD program each year of project. In 2021, 61 SNAP clients participated in nutrition education through Montana State University Extension. Each participant was provided at least $20 in Double SNAP Dollars as an incentive to attend the class. Educators then disseminate these coupons and take participants to the farmers market to redeem. Goal 4:Objective 1: Network Steering Committee members increase their knowledge of equity issues, using an equity lens when making program considerations, and of Native peoples in Montana, demonstrated through a series of documents created and shared amongst the committee, as well as ongoing discussions during committee meetings. More information is listed in the Activities section. The DSD Network Steering Committee formed an Equity Subcommittee to develop an action plan for increasing inclusion of Native people in our work. This group meets every other month. During this project period the Subcommittee created a resource library of Tribal educational materials for other Steering Committee members, met with three Tribal representatives in a listening/feedback session, and hired a Native consulting firm, Native Nexus, to develop a Tribal Community Engagement Action Plan led by the indigenous perspective.Objective 2: the Network is progressing relationships in at least 4 Native American reservation communities by the end of the project period. Progress will be demonstrated in two ways: at least one project is underway where DSD can support Native food sovereignty efforts, supporting Goal 2, Outcome 2; and through adequate representation on the DSD Network Steering Committee from Montana's reservations. The DSD Network is currently progressing relationships with potential firms from 5 of Montana's 8 recognized Tribal Nations. These include projects on the Flathead, Blackfeet, Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, and Crow Reservations. Each model is being developed with guidance from local Tribes and each resulting project will have a different design. Most notable this year is the work with the Fort Peck Pte Group, which is rematriating Bison from Yellowstone National Park to their traditional lands. In this project design, local Tribal leaders are developing their bison slaughter and processing infrastructure to re-integrate the meat back into their diets. In order to provide a specific incentive to support their food sovereignty initiatives, the incentive trigger will be the locally processed bison meat that will be sold at SNAP retailer stores on the Reservation. The group has engaged local grocers in a survey to assess interest in the bison project and resulting Double SNAP match opportunity.Objective 3: Lessons learned from the Network's processes and key resources will be outlined in a short case study that is shared with the Nutrition Incentive Hub, National Nutrition Incentive listserv, and other relevant platforms to add to the knowledge base for the growing number of organizations working through these important processes. This case study is planned for year 3-4 of our project
Publications
|
|