WIC Grants To States (WGS)

To assist WIC State agencies, through grants and cooperative agreements, in making improvements and/or enhancements to the delivery of program benefits and services to participants. These grants and cooperative agreements include the following: 1. W

Grants and cooperative agreements provided to improve the delivery of program benefits and services to WIC participants. Funding supports improvements and/or enhancements to State agencies' EBT and MIS technology projects; implementation or maintenance of effective WIC breastfeeding peer counselor programs; and innovation and infrastructure projects to improve program access and the customer experience.

State agencies that administer the WIC Program are eligible to apply for WIC Grant to States funds. States may apply individually or as a coalition of States for WIC EBT and MIS technology funds. States may apply individually for WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling, Special Project, Innovation, and Infrastructure grants.

Program improvements resulting from WIC Technology Grants benefit all WIC participants, WIC staff, and WIC vendors. Pregnant and breastfeeding women participating in the WIC Program are encouraged to initiate and sustain breastfeeding by peer counselors funded by Breastfeeding Peer Counseling grants. Program improvements resulting from WIC Infrastructure Grants benefit all WIC participants.

WIC Technology Grant funds are used to plan, develop, and implement projects for WIC MIS updates/transfers and EBT processing. Grant funds are used to enhance and improve WIC service provision using technology which will have a positive impact on the nutrition and health of WIC participants. WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Grants are used to administer peer counseling programs based on research-based components of a successful peer counseling program as identified by FNS in the WIC Breastfeeding Support (formerly Loving Support) model. This includes salary, office space and supervision of peer counselors. The use of funds for activities outside of the State agency's approved implementation plan or that are not supported by the WIC Breastfeeding Support model are not authorized. WIC Infrastructure Grants are used to plan, develop, and implement approved special State projects of regional or national significance to improve the program services.

All costs must be reasonable, necessary and allocable.

WIC Technology Grant funds are available from 2-5 years, depending on project timeline. Obligations must occur within the specified award period. WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling funds are 2-year funds. WIC Infrastructure Grant funds are 2-year funds.

For technology grant funding: funding is managed through the State agency's project planning and implementation documents or the Advanced Planning Document (APD) process, which support the State meeting the EBT mandate. FNS reviews and approves this documentation per Handbook 901 requirements.

State agencies use the APD process for project approval and request funding using MIS and EBT funding request protocol. State agencies submit a needs assessment form outlining the type of needs, the year of obligation, estimated cost, need reason and timeframe of completion. There is no application process for Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Grants. To receive funding, State agencies submit their funding requests in the annual State Plan. State agencies must submit a completed Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424), a proposal, and related assurance and certifications as provided by FNS to apply for WIC Infrastructure Grants.

FNS reviews all WIC technology project documentation to determine if the project meets all FNS Handbook 901 requirements. Funding is provided if the WIC State agency meets all documentation requirements, if outlined spending is necessary and reasonable, and if funding is available. WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling grants are provided to State agencies administering the WIC Program based on an FNS approved plan and the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women participating in the program. Breastfeeding performance bonuses are funded with Breastfeeding Peer Counseling grants. Bonus awards are based upon State agencies that have the highest percentage of fully breastfed infants and/or those that have the greatest improvement of the percentage of fully breastfed infants over the last fiscal year. WIC Infrastructure Grants will be awarded by FNS to State agencies administering the WIC program once proposed projects have been approved based on established evaluation criteria, and deemed necessary, reasonable, and allocable.

Deadlines vary by grant as specified in the NOFO.

Approval of a State agency's large MIS and/or EBT project can take up to a year for initial approval. Approval determination for WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling grant is made within 30 days of submission of a completed plan or amendment. Approval determination for the WIC Infrastructure grants is made approximately 90 days from date of submission.

A no-cost extension (NCE) for a technology grant, must occur within in the timeframe of the terms and conditions of the grant. For all grants issued in 2023 for example, they must submit the request 10 days prior to grant expiration.