Federal Formula Grant Award Summary

The Tennessee Department of Health received a $46.2 million Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC, CFDA 10.557) for the period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This award supports WIC administrative expenses necessary to operate the program's statewide infrastructure across Tennessee's 95 counties. The WIC program provides comprehensive nutrition assistance and support services to income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five who meet nutritional risk criteria, with funding covering both supplemental nutritious foods and the administrative costs required to deliver these benefits through local WIC clinics and service sites.

The Tennessee Department of Health distributed this funding through 28 sub-awards to county governments and local health departments throughout the state, including major recipients such as Shelby County Government, Hamilton County Health Department, Knox County Health Department, and Sullivan County Regional Health Department, among others. These sub-awardees utilized the funds to support local health services operations, WIC program services delivery, and nutrition assistance for vulnerable populations. The formula grant structure ensures equitable distribution of federal WIC program resources to state and local agencies responsible for direct participant service delivery, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion, and referrals to health and social services across Tennessee's diverse geographic regions.