ARP Market Match Expansion
Become a Project Partner
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 UPDATE
There is a limited amount of funding available for new project partners. Applications for Tranche 2 funding will be open for a limited time beginning April 7th 2023. Deadline for applications is April 28th, 2023, 5:00pm PST.
All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than May 19th, 2023. The application will require a brief budget proposal and attachments verifying your project site’s FNS SNAP or WIC retailer authorization.
SEE-LA and selected program partners will work together to ensure the following:
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:
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:
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.”