MONR0E - Main Street Monroe, celebrating its 10th anniversary, has been awarded a grant of almost $180,000 to enhance the use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at the farmers market.
The SNAP Farmers Market Support Grant is administered by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service to increase the effectiveness of SNAP operations at the farmers market. Grants were awarded to organizations engaged in farmers market management across the country, with recipients being in 23 states.
Monroe is one of just two communities in Wisconsin to get the grant: For Main Street Monroe, the estimated federal funding is $179,051, significantly more than Fond du Lac's $28,471. The amount will be spread out over three years.
The grant application was submitted by Main Street executive director Jordan Nordby.
"We had a really strong, core group of people who made this possible," Nordby said. Besides Nordby, those writing the grant were Tom Miller, Main Street Monroe vice president; Harry Pullium, chairman of the farmers market sub-committee; Ed Maksym; and Cara Carper, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
"We're in a competitive market, but we've been very fortunate to have so many people committed to continuing and improving the market. We have vendors who have been with the market for a long time and continue to be passionate about it," Nordby said.
As a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization, Main Street relies on volunteers. Bringing the farmers market under Main Street was a natural fit in that regard, Nordby said. Both Miller, who is also a city alderman, and Maksym were a part of last year's Green County Leaders group that worked on the farmers market.
"It's been especially heartening to have Ed's help through all of it. Even though Green County Leaders ended for him, he kept at it. When the numbers did not add up and we were finalizing the grant, Ed was the first and only person I called," Nordby said.
It has been a big transition year for the market, including hiring a part-time market manager, Taylor Golz. With additional funds the market will continue to grow, Nordby said.
The funds will allow Main Street to enhance SNAP accessibility and participation at the farmers market. Funds from the grant will only be available for the market and not Main Street Monroe's annual operating budget. This year, Main Street allocated its own funds to hire a market manager. However, the grant will cover part-time pay for the market manager.
Goals set out in the grant application include collaborating with community partners to implement outreach promotion SNAP acceptance; developing a transportation plan to help SNAP clients overcome transportation issues; taking advantage of educational experiences; providing training to vendors to operate EBT; and advertising the market through local and regional channels.
"Everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy, local food options and we have that here in Monroe with our farmers market. Thanks to everyone's efforts and the USDA, we really feel like the sky is the limit for the market," Nordby said. "To say we're elated about being awarded the grant would be a huge understatement."
The SNAP Farmers Market Support Grant is administered by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service to increase the effectiveness of SNAP operations at the farmers market. Grants were awarded to organizations engaged in farmers market management across the country, with recipients being in 23 states.
Monroe is one of just two communities in Wisconsin to get the grant: For Main Street Monroe, the estimated federal funding is $179,051, significantly more than Fond du Lac's $28,471. The amount will be spread out over three years.
The grant application was submitted by Main Street executive director Jordan Nordby.
"We had a really strong, core group of people who made this possible," Nordby said. Besides Nordby, those writing the grant were Tom Miller, Main Street Monroe vice president; Harry Pullium, chairman of the farmers market sub-committee; Ed Maksym; and Cara Carper, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
"We're in a competitive market, but we've been very fortunate to have so many people committed to continuing and improving the market. We have vendors who have been with the market for a long time and continue to be passionate about it," Nordby said.
As a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization, Main Street relies on volunteers. Bringing the farmers market under Main Street was a natural fit in that regard, Nordby said. Both Miller, who is also a city alderman, and Maksym were a part of last year's Green County Leaders group that worked on the farmers market.
"It's been especially heartening to have Ed's help through all of it. Even though Green County Leaders ended for him, he kept at it. When the numbers did not add up and we were finalizing the grant, Ed was the first and only person I called," Nordby said.
It has been a big transition year for the market, including hiring a part-time market manager, Taylor Golz. With additional funds the market will continue to grow, Nordby said.
The funds will allow Main Street to enhance SNAP accessibility and participation at the farmers market. Funds from the grant will only be available for the market and not Main Street Monroe's annual operating budget. This year, Main Street allocated its own funds to hire a market manager. However, the grant will cover part-time pay for the market manager.
Goals set out in the grant application include collaborating with community partners to implement outreach promotion SNAP acceptance; developing a transportation plan to help SNAP clients overcome transportation issues; taking advantage of educational experiences; providing training to vendors to operate EBT; and advertising the market through local and regional channels.
"Everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy, local food options and we have that here in Monroe with our farmers market. Thanks to everyone's efforts and the USDA, we really feel like the sky is the limit for the market," Nordby said. "To say we're elated about being awarded the grant would be a huge understatement."