FY 2005 Food Stamp Program Participation Grants

The summary for the FY 2005 Food Stamp Program Participation Grants grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Food and Nutrition Service, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

FY 2005 Food Stamp Program Participation Grants: The process of applying for food stamps, like any process that involves gathering large amounts of information and making multiple decisions, can be complex and frustrating for those who apply. The regulations that guide administration of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) have been amended many times over the years to target benefits ever more precisely to those in the greatest need. The result of this process is that the application process itself has become increasingly detailed and complex. There is some evidence that the application process itself constitutes a barrier to participation in the FSP for at least some applicants. To alleviate the problem, Congress has enacted legislation that simplifies some of the procedures for determining eligibility and benefits. As noted above, Congress authorized $5 million per year from fiscal years (FY) 2003 through 2007 for grants that would stimulate simplification and innovation within the 53 State agencies. This request for applications (RFA) solicits applications for the FY 2005 Program Participation Grant Program, with the understanding that funds for FY 2005 are subject to appropriation. The purposes stated above are in sharp contrast with those of the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Outreach Grants Program, which strives to increase food stamp participation by marketing the program, helping applicants complete the application forms, and expanding the range and number of places people can go to get information and assistance with their food stamp applications. Where the Outreach Grants are primarily concerned with getting applicants into the food stamp office, the Program Participation Grants are primarily concerned with the quality and efficiency of operations within the food stamp office. For this reason, Program Participation Grants do not support projects that devote more than 25% of the requested grant funds to outreach activities--such as advertising, application assistance, screening or pre-qualifying applicants, or out-stationing eligibility workers--whose purpose is to attract or recruit food stamp applicants. This RFA seeks diverse proposals that would make the entire process, from certification to recertification, easier and more efficient for the applicant/participant. The proposals should include innovative development of new or revised State or County food stamp systems that do not rely solely on outreach. While this innovation does not have to be a completely new idea or concept, the proposal needs to demonstrate that the idea is new and innovative to that specific State or County office. The proposed process can incorporate outreach activities as long as they do not exceed 25% of the project cost. The proposal needs to demonstrate direct evidence that the proposed procedural or systemic changes would make the food stamp process easier for the participant. In short, Program Participation Grants support innovation and organizational change. This RFA seeks diverse proposals that would make the entire process, from certification to recertification, easier and more efficient for applicants and participants. We encourage potential applicants to read carefully the review criteria on pages 9-11. These criteria show potential applicants the qualities FNS expects successful proposals to have; they will also guide the reviewers evaluation of proposals.