FNS intends to make available approximately $5 million to support grants to non-profit national organizations with broad member or affiliate networks that provide direct workforce development services to low-income and low-skilled individuals, including SNAP participants.

Grant funds will

credit:

be used to support new organizational capacity to provide to network members or affiliates training and other technical assistance so that network members or affiliates may become third-party SNAP E&T providers.Allowable activities may include, but are not limited to:
Organizing and convening conferences or meetings with network members or affiliates;Developing peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities or platforms;Developing materials such as toolkits, checklists, and curriculum;Sharing best practices through webinars or site visits; andProviding professional development opportunities for member or affiliate staff.

Training and technical assistance to network members or affiliates may cover issues such as, but not limited to, guidance on:Policy and programmatic fundamentals about the SNAP E&T program;The role of State SNAP agencies in administering the SNAP E&T program;Information technology, administrative, fiscal, and other infrastructure needs related to becoming a SNAP E&T third-party provider;Organizational strengths or weaknesses related to becoming a SNAP E&T provider and providing SNAP E&T services;The provision of case management and participant reimbursements to E&T participants; andBest-practices for providing employment and training services to SNAP participants and moving them toward economic self-sufficiency.

Funds cannot be used to provide direct services, for existing organizational activities, or for regular, on-going operating costs.

Funds must be used to create new organizational capacity, including staff and other infrastructure needs, to provide SNAP E&T technical assistance and training to network member or affiliate organizations.Grantees, via one or more of their member or affiliate organizations, must have demonstrated expertise providing SNAP E&T services.

Grantees must also have, across multiple member or affiliate organizations, demonstrated expertise moving low-income and low-skilled individuals, including SNAP participants, toward economic self-sufficiency.