The Agriculture Department today announced an elaborate set of rules for grants under the Food Insecurity Nutrition Program (FINI).

FINI is a joint effort between the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which makes grants for agricultural research, and USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, which oversees SNAP and has responsibility for evaluating the impacts of the incentive projects.

The solicitation for requests for proposal today will set off a multi-month competition for money. This solicitation combines funds for fiscal years 2014 and 2015. There will not be a solicitation in fiscal year 2015. Applications are due December 15, 2014.

NIFA, which will host a webinar for applicants on October 2 at 2 p.m., said it will give priority to projects that:

• Maximize the share of funds used for direct incentives to participants
• Test innovative or promising strategies that would contribute to an understanding of how best to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by SNAP participants, which would inform future efforts
• Develop innovative or improved benefit redemption systems that could be replicated or scaled
• Use direct-to-consumer sales marketing
• Demonstrate a track record of designing and implementing successful nutrition incentive programs that connect low-income consumers and agricultural producers
• Provide locally- or regionally-produced fruits and vegetables, especially culturally-appropriate fruits and vegetables for the target audience
• Are located in underserved communities, particularly Promise Zones and StrikeForce communities.

All FINI projects must:

• Have the support of a state SNAP agency;
• Increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in SNAP by providing incentives at the point of purchase;
• Operate through authorized SNAP retailers, and be in compliance with all relevant SNAP regulations and operating requirements;
• Agree to participate in the FINI comprehensive program evaluation;
• Ensure that the same terms and conditions apply to purchases made by individuals receiving SNAP benefits as apply to purchases made by individuals who are not SNAP participants;
• And include effective and efficient technologies for benefit redemption systems that may be replicated in other states and communities.

USDA asked for applications in the three categories:

• FINI pilot projects (awards not to exceed $100,000 over one year);
• Multi-year, community-based FINI projects (awards not to exceed $500,000 over no more than four years);
• Multi-year, FINI large-scale projects (awards of $500,000 or more over no more than four years).