Market Match | SEE-LA

ARP Market Match Expansion

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Project Background

Market Match is California’s healthy food SNAP incentive program and is currently offered in over 30 out of 130 farmers’ markets across Los Angeles County (LAC). At an individual level, Market Match extends the purchasing power of nutrition assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh. CalFresh benefits are supplemental in nature, and LAC Health Survey data shows that low-income households still experience food insecurity while participating in CalFresh. The Market Match program provides on average $10 of matching funds for fruits and vegetables per visit at participating farmers’ markets. This program is vital in supporting local farmers and businesses, promoting sustainable food systems and community food security.

However, Market Match is currently limited in locations that offer the program, specifically communities in Service Planning Area (SPA) 1 (Lancaster, Palmdale), SPA 2 (San Fernando, Sylmar) and SPA 6 (Lynwood, Compton). ARP funding will help to expand Market Match and similar Nutrition Incentives in these SPA’s and across all of LAC to ensure that CalFresh and other federally funded nutrition assistance program participants can purchase more healthy foods with their benefits.

The goal of the project is to increase the percentage of food and nutrition secure households across LAC. This project will work to ensure that low-income residents participating in federal nutrition benefit programs have increased access to nutrition incentives, thereby increasing purchasing power for healthy foods. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and SEE-LA will focus its efforts on historically underserved communities across LAC, specifically in areas with the highest rates of CalFresh cases per census tract and in historically redlined neighborhoods. This project will be implemented county-wide to overcome financial barriers for low-income residents to buy fresh produce in LAC. LAC ARP-funded service areas have been identified using the Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative’s Equity Explorer mapping tool.

Service areas identified for ARP Market Match can be viewed HERE.

PROJECT DESIGN

SEE-LA and selected program partners will work together to ensure the following:

Distribution of ARP Market Match
Distribute ARP Market Match in the form of scrip or store credits to qualifying clients at a minimum of 15 certified farmers’ markets or other approved retailers in LAC and/or increase dollar-for-dollar match at existing certified farmers’ markets and other sites that currently operate Market Match and similar programs in LAC.
Equitable Geographic Expansion of ARP Market Match Program
Support expansion of ARP Market Match program to reach additional qualifying, low-income clients in LAC, by incorporating ARP Market Match at a minimum of three new locations in SPAs 1, 2 and 6.
Equitable Retail Expansion of ARP Market Match Program
Support expansion of locations distributing nutrition incentives where fresh fruits and vegetables are sold (e.g. brick-and-mortar, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), grocery stores, corner stores, mobile markets, or other direct marketing outlets). Retailers who sell California-grown produce will be prioritized. However, retailers selling non-California grown produce will not be excluded. If non-California grown produce is sold, the program cannot be branded as Market Match and instead will be branded as an LAC specific program.
Program Promotion and Community Outreach
Develop locally focused promotional and outreach materials including signage to promote the project and collaborate with local media, social service agencies, and community-based organizations (CBOs); distribute promotional materials to promote the purchase of fruits and vegetables to qualifying clients at certified farmers’ markets or other approved retailers.

Partner Eligibility

SEE-LA and LACDPH will select program partners based in LAC with existing community relationships and the capacity to distribute ARP Market Match to community members facing food insecurity across LAC. A priority will be placed on partners serving communities with the highest need as described in the Project Background section. ARP Market Match does not require separate funding for a dollar-for-dollar match on direct services or nutrition incentives from project partners.

Eligibility is as follows:

Program partners providing a match on CalFresh EBT must be authorized to accept CalFresh benefits or be in the process of obtaining authorization. Additionally, while the focus of this project is on CalFresh participants, proposals that consider WIC participants at WIC card authorized sites are eligible to apply.
Eligible organizations and businesses include farm-direct outlets such as farmers’ markets, CSA’s, farm stands, or small grocers or mobile markets.
Program partners should have a demonstrated commitment to combating food insecurity in the communities they serve and working with CalFresh and other federal nutrition benefits users.

Additionally, Program partners should demonstrate the ability to reach residents that are enrolled in federal nutrition assistance programs, particularly CalFresh but may also include WIC card benefit users, and live in communities that:

Were most impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency (see map)
Have the highest rates of CalFresh participation, and/or
Communities that have been historically impacted by Neighborhood Redlining.

Program partners must not have been suspended or debarred from participating in or receiving federal government contracts, subcontracts, loans, grants, or other assistance programs.

Program partners shall comply with Chapter 2.212 (COVID-19 Vaccinations of County Contractor Personnel) of County Code Title 2 – Administration, Division 4:

“Program partners shall provide COVID-19 vaccination certification of compliance prior to beginning any work or services on this project. Program partners shall also comply with all other applicable local, departmental, State, and federal laws, regulations, and requirements for COVID-19.”

TIMELINE

The deadline for applications is October 31st, 2022, 5:00pm PST.

Applications will be accepted from September 15th, 2022 to October 31st, 2022 at 5:00 pm PST. Project partners will be awarded on a rolling basis to ensure rapid project implementation. All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than November 11th, 2022. The application will require a brief budget proposal and attachments verifying your project site’s FNS SNAP or WIC retailer authorization (either processed or pending).

Application Form Link

Application Preview

Budget Proposal Template

For additional information and questions about the Application please contact us at arpmarketmatch@see-la.org.