The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Competitive Grants Program

Background
The GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program aims to bring together stakeholders from various parts of the food and healthcare systems to improve the health and nutrition status of participating households. The program supports and evaluates projects intended to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by providing incentives at the point of purchase among income-eligible consumers participating in the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands, in addition to income-eligible consumers participating in the USDA Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands.

Grant Details
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2024 has an anticipated funding of $36,300,000. The program supports three incremental program areas: GusNIP Pilot Projects (FPP), GusNIP Standard Projects (FIP), and GusNIP Large Scale Projects (FLSP). The grant duration for FPP is 12 months with a maximum award amount of $100,000; for FIP and FLSP, it is up to 48 months with a maximum award amount greater than $500,000. The program encourages projects that address current and future challenges related to nutrition security, nutritional quality, environmental stewardship, culturally sensitive food practices, economic and social equity. It also emphasizes serving underrepresented communities and geographies.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must aim to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among SNAP/NAP participants by providing incentives at the point of purchase. They must follow the policies, rules, and regulations of the respective food assistance programs their nutrition incentive project will partner with. Additionally, they must participate in the GusNIP comprehensive program evaluation and engage diverse communities.

Period of Performance
The grant's period of performance is within Fiscal Year 2024 with specific application deadlines mentioned for each task under different project areas.

Grant Value
$36,300,000 is available for grants in FY 2024. The maximum award amount varies depending on the project area: up to $100,000 for FPP and up to $500,000 for FIP; FLSP grants have a maximum award amount greater than $500,000.

Place of Performance
The grant supports projects intended to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by SNAP/NAP participants in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands.