In FY 2022, FNS awarded $23,100,000.00 in grants to 66 WIC state agencies to support planning and implementation of projects to improve the WIC participant experience. State agencies each received $350,000.00 in funding to work on multiple types of projects.
FNS awarded grants to WIC state agencies to tackle the WIC shopping experience from every angle—from improving in store signage and cashier training, to working toward online shopping.
USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.
On Nov. 1, 2022, FNS held a celebration and briefing of the ARPA funded WIC and FMNP outreach, innovation and modernization efforts.
USDA is strengthening and modernizing WIC to connect more eligible families with benefits and provide them the best experience throughout their time in the program.
In an effort to help states prepare for the eventual end of the federal public health emergency, FNS hosted a webinar to share lessons learned from state agencies that have ended emergency allotments.
As part of the WIC innovation and modernization efforts to be funded under ARPA, FNS will provide non-competitive grants to WIC state agencies for planning and implementation of technology enhancements that improve the WIC participant experience, as evidenced by increasing participant enrollment, reducing unnecessary administrative burden for both participants and administrators, and retaining eligible participants while improving equity.
As part of the WIC innovation and modernization efforts to be funded under ARPA, FNS will fund non-competitive grants to WIC State agencies to complete projects aimed at improving the WIC shopping experience, which is a well-documented pain point for WIC participants. The primary goal of funded projects must be to improve the shopping experience, as evidenced by increasing the redemption of WIC benefits, improving customer satisfaction, and/or improving participant access to vendors, including for underserved communities and individuals.
To support state agencies and program operators as they transition back to standard program operations while continuing to manage challenges associated with the pandemic, FNS is working both internally and with other federal agencies to pursue strategies within existing authorities and available resources.
This document is a template to assist states in the development of an amendment to extend their approved state plan to operate pandemic EBT for school children and for children in child care during summer 2022.