Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Ohio Department of Aging received a $1,241,060 Project Grant award effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service to administer the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP, CFDA 10.576). Under this award, the department will distribute federal benefits in the form of checks, coupons, or electronic transfers to eligible low-income seniors in Ohio, enabling them to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprepared produce—including locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs—directly from authorized farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs.

The grant supports dual objectives of improving senior nutrition outcomes while simultaneously strengthening local agricultural economies through direct consumer-producer connections. The Ohio Department of Aging will utilize these funds for benefit issuance to eligible seniors and program administration, which typically comprises 5-15 percent of the total award. As is standard practice under the SFMNP, the department is expected to maintain comprehensive operational records for a minimum of three years following final expenditure report submission, in compliance with applicable federal regulations.