FINI is a joint effort between USDA\u2019s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and its Food and Nutrition Service, which oversees SNAP and has responsibility for evaluating the effectiveness of the incentive projects. FINI brings together providers and players from distinct parts of the U.S. food system and fosters understanding of how we might improve the nutrition and health status of SNAP households. The awards under FINI represent a variety of projects, including relatively small pilot projects, multi-year community-based projects, and larger-scale multi-year projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am proud to support programs that help put food on tables of at least 44 million Americans, including 19 million children,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright.<\/strong> \u201cThis grant will help low-income families consume more nutritious food, while also supporting family farmers.\u201d<\/p>\n Nurture Nature Center, located in downtown Easton, is a science-based community center that uses science, art and dialogue programs to help the community learn about and engage in local environmental issues. The center\u2019s Buy Fresh Buy Local Greater Lehigh Valley (BFBLGLV) program educates consumers about the many benefits of choosing locally grown foods, promotes local food providers, improves fresh food access, facilitates local food purchases by wholesale buyers, conducts research about our local food economy, and supports the Thriving Local Food System branch of the Food Policy Council.<\/p>\n \u201cThis award from USDA is critical to Nature Nurture Center\u2019s effort to connect the community with its local environment, while improving the health of local residents at the same time,\u201d said Rachel Hogan Carr, executive director of Nurture Nature Center. <\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThe Nurture Nature Center is honored to receive this highly competitive award, and is eager to see the Double SNAP program expand throughout the Lehigh Valley.\u00a0 Helping residents access fresh, local food is a critical part of building a strong community and environment, and this project does both at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the most exciting aspects of our program in the coming years will be efforts to offer SNAP incentives in the area\u2019s Healthy Corner Stores,” said\u00a0Allison Czapp, BFBLGLV outreach coordinator and project director.<\/strong> “Strategies to make fresh, local fruits and vegetables more affordable for low-income community members will work toward building an equitable food system, keep more food dollars circulating in our local economy and support the health of all Lehigh Valley residents.\u201d<\/p>\n Rep. Matt Cartwright represents Pennsylvania\u2019s 17th Congressional District, which includes Schuylkill County and portions of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Northampton Counties.\u00a0 Cartwright serves on the House Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.<\/em><\/p>\n Information & Image Provided By: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nColleen Eagen Gerrity<\/p>\n
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