Release No. 0481.09
Contact:
Jean Daniel (703) 305-2286
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK ANNOUNCES $18 MILLION TO STATES FOR OUTSTANDING, TIMELY NUTRITION AID
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $18 million in bonus awards to States for outstanding and timely customer service in providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program, serves over 35 million Americans each month.
"During these challenging economic times, it is vital that SNAP applications are processed in a timely manner and that barriers to participation are torn down," Vilsack said. "The States we recognize today are leaders in these customer service efforts and can serve as models for other States."
Each year, USDA awards a total of $12 million in performance bonuses to eight States with the best and most improved program access index. The program access index is the ratio of participants to the number of persons below 125 percent of poverty and reflects State performance in reaching those eligible for these important nutrition benefits. USDA also awards $6 million to six States with the highest rate of timely processed applications, an important indicator of customer service in administering the Program.
States recognized with grants this year are:
Best Program Access Index:
Alaska; $273,584
District of Columbia; $476,947
Missouri; $2,580,379
Oregon; $2,021,483
Tennessee; $3,342,208
Most Improved Program Access Index:
Alaska; see 'best' above
Maryland; $1,420,511
Delaware; $356,813
Wisconsin; $1,528,075
Best Application Processing Timeliness:
Montana; $292,908
Massachusetts; $1,548,018
Virgin Islands; $127,370
Louisiana; $1,865,726
District of Columbia; $359,358
Missouri; $1,806,620
Massachusetts is being awarded a timeliness bonus for the sixth consecutive year. Louisiana, Missouri, and Montana have won a timeliness bonus for the second consecutive year. Missouri is being awarded a PAI bonus for the sixth consecutive year. Tennessee is being awarded a PAI bonus for the fourth consecutive year. Oregon is being awarded a PAI bonus for the third consecutive year.
In June 2009, SNAP awarded $30 million to States for excellence and improvement in administering benefits. Awardees included Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Virgin Islands, Wyoming, Colorado and Oklahoma.
For more information on USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, please visit www.fns.usda.gov .
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