Project Grant 20217003035774

IN RURAL WESTERN NEVADA, ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, AS WELL AS FOOD SECURITY, ARE LIMITED. ENSURING THE RESIDENTS IN UNDERSERVED, RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, FRESH, AFFORDABLE FOOD, IS CENTRAL TO THE MISSION OF HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COALITION'S RURAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION INITIATIVE, AND IS THE FOCUS OF THIS PROPOSAL, THE RURAL RETAIL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROJECT. THE PRIMARY GOAL AND OBJECTIVE OF THE GUSNIP PROGRAM IS TO FUND AND EVALUATE PROJECTS INTENDED TO "INCREASE THE PURCHASE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BY LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS PARTICIPATING IN SNAP BY PROVIDING INCENTIVES AT THE POINT OF PURCHASE". THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DO: PROVIDE RURAL RETAIL FIRMS WITH FRESH PRODUCE TO STOCK AND SELL; DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A MARKETING AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE TARGET COMMUNITIES PROMOTING CONSUMPTION OF FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE; PROVIDE A DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR POINT-OF-PURCHASE INCENTIVE TO SNAP PARTICIPATING HOUSEHOLDS FOR PURCHASING FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE; AND PERFORM AN EVALUATION OF THE INTERVENTION TO DETERMINE EFFECTIVENESS AND INFORM NEXT STEPS. THE OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT WERE CHOSEN SPECIFICALLY TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PRIORITIES OF NIFA AND GUSNIP, AND TO PROVIDE BENCHMARKS TO EVALUATE THE PROJECT'S EFFECTIVENESS. THE PROJECT DESIGN AND ACTIVITIES ALL WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS THIS OUTCOME. THE RURAL RETAIL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROJECT WILL BE DIRECTED BY CORTNEY BLOOMER, MPH, AND IMPLEMENTED WITH THE SUPPORT AND COOPERATION OF HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COALITION STAFF, PARTICIPATING FIRMS, AND PARTNER AGENCIES.