Courtney Announces USDA Grant to Improve Access to Healthy Foods for Children

Press Release

Congressman Joe Courtney today announced that the State of Connecticut secured a demonstration grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve access to healthy foods for children. The grant, which is part of a pilot program, will test new ways to provide nutrition assistance and access to healthy foods to low-income children during the summer.

"Addressing childhood hunger is not just the right thing to do to help today's children," said Congressman Courtney. "It is about our future, our health, and our well-being as a nation. At their very core, reducing childhood hunger and childhood obesity are also national security issues. I have visited numerous summer food programs and seen firsthand their value. This grant will have a tremendous impact for children across Connecticut."

According to USDA, in Connecticut, the Department of Social Services will operate a SNAP-model Summer-EBT project in collaboration with the State Department of Education and 23 School Food Authorities in Windham and New London counties. End Hunger CT! will also help execute the demonstration project.

"It makes great sense to try this pilot in northeastern Connecticut, where there is a lack of transportation to summer food sites," said Lucy Nolan, executive director of End Hunger CT! "According to USDA, for every five dollars in SNAP benefits, there is a $9.20 economic benefit. This initiative will not only help families of kids who can't get out to summer food sites, but it will also help the local economy."

In addition to the value of the food benefits that will be provided to recipients in the demonstration areas, Connecticut will receive $195,529 for administration and operation of the SEBTC demonstration project.

Improving child nutrition was also a goal of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was signed into law on Monday after passing the House with Courtney's strong support. That legislation was written in part by the House Education and Labor Committee, on which Courtney serves. It will reduce childhood obesity and childhood hunger by increasing the number and quality of healthy meals available to needy children, and providing the first real increase in the federal reimbursement rate for school lunches in more than 30 years. It will also limit the availability of high-calorie junk food and sugary drinks on school campuses.

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