Project Grant 20237041541207

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WNC FARM FRESH DOUBLE SNAP NETWORK WILL IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND ACCESS BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO LOCAL FOOD- AND FARM- CENTERED ENVIRONMENTS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WNC), A REGION IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS WHERE RESIDENTS GRAPPLE WITH HIGH RATES OF POVERTY, FOOD INSECURITY, AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES. BY CREATING A REGIONAL NETWORK FOR IMPLEMENTING SNAP INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ACROSS WNC, THE NETWORK WILL TEST AN INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY ADAPTIVE MODEL FOR EXISTING AND NEW LOCAL FIRMS THAT CENTRALIZES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, OUTREACH AND PROMOTION EFFORTS, AND DATA TRACKING AND MANAGEMENT BUT CAN BE TAILORED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY. THE MODEL WILL ENSURE NEW PROCESSES CAN BE BUILT INTO EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES BY OPTIMIZING CONNECTIONS FOR EXPANDED ENGAGEMENT/IMPACT. LEAD APPLICANT APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT (ASAP) HAS TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE UNDERSTANDING WNC'S FOOD ECONOMY; ASAP AND PARTNERS MOUNTAINWISE AND BLUE RIDGE WOMEN INAGRICULTURE HAVE DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS OPERATING SNAP INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AT A COMBINED 26 WNC FIRMS. OBJECTIVES: 1) IMPLEMENT DOUBLE SNAP INCENTIVES ACROSS 38 FIRMS TO INCREASE CONSUMPTION OF LOCAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR SNAP RECIPIENTS; 2) SUPPORT FIRMS TO BE POSITIVE FOOD ENVIRONMENTS THAT FOSTER DIRECT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FARMERS/CONSUMERS; 3) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A REGIONAL OUTREACH/PROMOTION PLAN TO BOLSTER PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR CHANGES. THE NETWORK ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH INCLUDES COMMUNITY PARTNERS REPRESENTING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN SUPPORTING SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY ADAPTIVE MODEL. THIS WILL ENSURE NETWORK PROCESSES, OUTREACH, AND ENGAGEMENT ALIGN WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS.