Thrive together: digging deeper: montana double snap dollars program will increase consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) by snap customers while building new markets and financial opportunities…

The Community Food & Agriculture Coalition, Inc. received a $2.28 million Project Grant from the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition under the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (CFDA 10.331) awarded September 16, 2025, for the "THRIVE TOGETHER: DIGGING DEEPER: Montana Double SNAP Dollars Program." Executed through September 15, 2029, the project increases fruit and vegetable consumption among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants while simultaneously building market opportunities and financial returns for local Montana producers. The program operates through a statewide hub-and-spoke implementation network that includes sub-awardees such as the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services and Oregon Tilth, Inc.

The deliverables focus on three core objectives: (1) optimizing incentive delivery models—including dollar-for-dollar and multi-dollar matches on SNAP purchases—to maximize redemption rates and fruit and vegetable consumption; (2) measuring local food purchasing patterns and supporting brick-and-mortar retailers to increase local food procurement; and (3) developing comprehensive marketing and outreach engagement strategies with implementation partners and participants. The project prioritizes maximizing the proportion of federal funds directed to participant incentives, supporting year-round retailers, delivering services in high-need areas, and executing direct-to-consumer marketing initiatives. Program evaluation employs Nutrition Technical Assistance and Evaluation core metrics and RE-AIM/CFIR frameworks to assess implementation effectiveness and inform long-term sustainability and health outcomes.

Thrive together: digging deeper: montana double snap dollars program will increase consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) by snap customers while building new markets and financial opportunities for local producers in montana. This project leverages the expertise of the statewide double snap dollars (DSD) network steering committee and hub and spoke implementation partners to increase impact and improve outcomes of DSD in three specific ways: 1) understanding incentive delivery models that lead to highest redemptions, engagement, and FV consumption; 2) measuring local food purchases and supporting brick and mortar (BM) retailers to increase purchases of local foods; and 3) building an engagement plan with our partners to increase effective and efficient marketing and outreach to partners and participants. This project is guided by ten years of snap match programming in montana and includes a response to demonstrated community needs and feedback from the DSD network steering committee, implementation partners, evaluators, vendors, and participants.DSD aligns with the goals of gusnip, and in addition to the stated goals of the proposal (ABOVE), this project seeks to maximize the share of federal funds used for incentives, support firms that are open year-round, offer supplemental services in high needs areas, and provide direct-to-consumer marketing.evaluation will include ntae core metrics and a RE-aim/cfir framework to better understand and improve program implementation, leading to long-term positive health outcomes for participants and long-term viability for program operations.