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Welcome to the EBT/Link Webinar

Learn how EBT/LINK can benefit your market and provide fresh, healthy food for low-income residents. This webinar provides information and resources to help you implement EBT/LINK at your market.

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Welcome to the EBT/Link Webinar

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  1. Welcome to the EBT/Link Webinar Margaret Larson, Director Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, University of Illinois Extension “The goal of this training is to provide you with information and resources to learn how EBT/LINK can benefit your market and expand access to fresh healthy food for low-income residents throughout Illinois.” Presented December 8, 2010

  2. Urbana’s Market at the Square

  3. STRUCTURE • Machine is leased from Merchant Source • Token system • Service charge to help offset costs • On-site management by Market staff • City’s Finance Dept/Market Director handle payments & other admin tasks

  4. PROCEDURE • Vendors receive packet pre-season • Vendors receive envelope each week • Staff works with patrons • Token redemption at end of day • Spreadsheet for internal recordkeeping • Checks cut for following week

  5. PROMOTION • Pilot year= very little promotion • Word of mouth • Signage on-site • Worked casually with other agencies – Public Health, Foodbank, etc

  6. OUTCOMES • Sold $5,351 in LINK tokens over 27 week period • Sold $44,130 in credit/debit tokens over 27 week period • High patron satisfaction • High farmer/vendor satisfaction • Program will continue in 2011

  7. PLANS FOR 2011 • Overall increase in promotion – WIC grant • Increase in staff/volunteer presence – City tent was very busy, staff always occupied • Bi-lingual outreach materials into agencies, food pantries, and schools • Better signage on-site • Web presence at City site for patron education

  8. Contact information: Lisa Bralts, Director Urbana’s Market at the Square 400 S. Vine Street Urbana, IL 61801 Phone: 217-384-2319 Fax: 217-384-0200 Email: ljbralts@urbanaillinois.us Web: www.urbanaillinois.us/market Find us on Facebook – search for “Urbana’s Market at the Square” We tweet! www.twitter.com/urbanamarket I love penguins.

  9. Downtown Bloomington Farmers MarketLearn about LINK Training Materials

  10. Where To Find LINK Training Information • Illinois Department of Agriculture website “Illinois Where Fresh Is”www.illinoiswherefreshis.com (located in the “Farmers Market Forum” section) Includes the “Illinois Farmers’ Market LINK GUIDE” and other resources • LINK at Illinois Farmers Market Groupsite http://farmersmarketlink.groupsite.com/main/summary • Illinois Department of Human Services website “Accepting LINK at Farmers Markets Federal Application Process”http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=47207

  11. Groupsite to Share Information and Resources URL: http://farmersmarketlink.groupsite.com/main/summary

  12. Contact for more information • Elaine Sebald, Market Manager Downtown Bloomington Farmers Market bloomington_farmersmarket@yahoo.com • Downtown Bloomington Association:  Phone: 309-829-9599

  13. Illinois LINKLeveraging for Success

  14. Illinois LINK Leveraging for Success • Look at all the angles – beyond the food • Know how serves your community • Know all your funding options • Identify potential partners • Provide matching resources • Be prepared • Success breeds success

  15. Illinois LINK Identify All the Benefits – Food and More • Expands SNAP recipients’ access to a wide variety of fresh, local food products. • Promotes healthy eating, balanced food choices, and positive health outcomes for low-income residents. • Aligns with Michelle Obama’s initiative to combat childhood obesity, as well as diabetes and other nutrition-related illnesses. • Creates opportunities for farmers markets, farm stands and other direct-to-consumer fresh food venues in food deserts and low-income communities. • Supports local family farms and rural economies. • Creates economic stability for farmers markets. • Creates jobs. • Strengthens communities.

  16. Illinois LINK Know All Your Funding Options • Community based • State • Federal • Public • Private • Foundations • Individuals • Chambers of Commerce • Local Businesses • Universities • Hospitals • Insurance Companies • State Agencies – IDHS, Dept of Ag • Federal Agencies - USDA

  17. Illinois LINK USDA Food and Nutrition Services Leveraging Partnership to Fund SNAP Outreach • FNS funding to encourage enrollment in SNAP • States must match this contribution to utilize the fund, • or the State can pass on the funds to non-profit organizations as a 50% match for their investment in SNAP outreach. • Eligible expenses include: direct mailers, local PSA’s, church bulletins, NGO newsletters, newspaper advertisements, articles and OP-Eds, promotion at a community event… • Assistance (i.e. staff time) with point of contact with clients, application, pre-screening… • Contact IDHS for more info.

  18. Illinois LINK Success Story Experimental Station • Leads Illinois for SNAP redemption at farmers markets. • 61st Street Farmers Market: Established in 2008 on South Side of Chicago (food desert). • 1,000% increase in SNAP sales at 61st Street Farmers Market from 2008 to 2010. • 70% of SNAP shoppers surveyed said they increased their fruit and vegetable consumption since shopping at the Market. • Implemented Illinois’ first SNAP Double Value Coupon Program – doubling up to $25 per card holder, per market day • Oversees six Double Value Coupon Programs

  19. Illinois LINK 61st Street Farmers Market – SNAP Success

  20. Illinois LINK Leveraging Success Beyond the 61st Street Farmers Market • City of Chicago Farmers Markets EBT Program • HB4756 – Farmers Market Technology Improvement Act • FREE EBT/SNAP Consulting Services • Overtown Farmers Market – South Miami • Link Up Illinois

  21. Illinois LINK Keys to Successful Leveraging Have Data • Demonstrate need • Demonstrate past success / track record • Demonstrate potential for program expansion (your program and beyond) Have a Plan • Detailed budget • Staffing – paid and volunteer • Matching resources Have a Goal • Measurable

  22. Illinois LINK Contact Info Dennis Ryan Market Manager 61st Street Farmers Market Experimental Station 773.241.6044 dennisryan@experimentalstation.org

  23. Corey Chatman EBT/LINK Coordinator for 2010 season City of Chicago’s Farmers MarketEBT/LINK Pilot Program

  24. Implementation of EBT/LINK City of Chicago Markets The City of Chicago and Experimental Station join forces to implement EBT/LINK program at 5 of the 19 City markets. Season ran from May 15th to October 21st Serviced markets strategically located across the City. Central, North, South, and West. Transactions made with Wireless EBT machine. Used “Chit” system to facilitate transactions. Issued $5,000 worth of incentives from Wholesome Wave’s LINK Buck program.

  25. Challengesand Lessons learned Chicago has a highly diverse population, yet many neighborhoods suffer from economic, social, and racial barriers. Overcoming these challenges takes good planning… • Market location. • Proper signage placement, both in and outside of the market. • Community outreach. • Incentive programs.

  26. Challengesand Lessons learned - continued Other challenge to be aware of are the stigma associated with the Food Stamp Program. • Many shoppers are self-conscious to use their LINK card at the market. • Many markets are leery of enacting an EBT program. Overcoming these challenges took a combination of …

  27. Challengesand Lessons learned - Education • Farmers • What items can and cannot be sold using LINK. • “Chit” & LINK Buck processes. • Reimbursement of purchases. • Shoppers • What items can and cannot be purchased with their LINK card. • “Chit” & LINK Buck processes. • Other markets that accept LINK. • Where to go to apply for a LINK card.

  28. Challenges and Lessons learned - Sensitivity • The shoppers need to be accepted as any other shopper, making them feel welcomed in the market. • The farmers need for ongoing training and help with transactions.

  29. Sales Transactions A look at the numbers…The five markets totaled a $28,944 with 3,537 transactions! .

  30. What's Next? Due to the tremendous success of the program for the 2010 season, Chicago is looking to continue providing LINK services at it’s Farmers Markets.

  31. What's Next? The Experimental Station was the recipient of the USDA’s Farmers Market Promotions Program grant for 2010. Goal: To aid Farmers Markets throughout the state establish EBT/LINK programs. Established EBT/LINK consultant position that provides FREE consulting services to Illinois FM’s.

  32. Free, Free, Free! As a FREE resource to Farmers Markets, FM managers, and Market stands in Illinois, we are able to provide the following. • Guidance on application Process for applying for LINK. • Training Workshops. • Assist with capacity assessment for establishing a SNAP/EBT/LINK program at your market. • Identifying resources, developing ideas, and establishing best practices to help create and/or enhance your SNAP/EBT program.

  33. For help with bringing EBT/LINK to your market contact… Corey Chatman SNAP/EBT Consultant Email corey@experimentalstation.org (o) 773-241-6044 (cell) 773-896-4450 Experimental Station 6100 S. Blackstone Chicago Il 60637

  34. Purpose/Results of recent EBT Survey Understand how current markets are operating Link/Credit/Debit transactions Identify an IL Farmers Market revenue base from EBT transactions Share informational data with other farmers markets Discover new ways to generate funding for this program 38

  35. 2010 Range of Link Market Sales to Date 39

  36. EBT Survey Results 40

  37. Results, cont. 41

  38. Results, cont. 42

  39. Results, cont. 43

  40. Best Practices Shared 44

  41. Results, cont. 45

  42. Contact for more information: Sylvia Smith, Ph.D., CHE Food and Nutrition Professor, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleMC 4317, Quigley Hall Rm 209BCarbondale, IL 62901 Phone: 618/536-7567 Email: ssmith8@siu.edu 46

  43. Upcoming Training Opportunities 2011 Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference Jan. 5-7, 2011, Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Springfield, IL To receive registration materials or to obtain exhibitor information, contact Diane Handley at 309/557-2107 or DHandley@ilfb.org Registration form can be printed from the website listed below for emailing, mailing or faxing to ISGA Agenda and Registration information, check out www.specialtygrowers.org

  44. Special Pre-Conference Workshop January 5, 2010 “EXPANDING FARMERS MARKET OPPORTUNITIES” • Learn How To Grow Community Services and Advocate for Farmers Market -Stacy Miller, Ex. Director, Farmers Market Coalition (invited) http://farmersmarketcoalition.org/ • Learn new Marketing Changes and Innovations - Lisa Bralts, Director -Market on the Square, City of Urbana (Facilitator for panel presentation) www.urbanaillinois.us/market. www.market-at-the-square.blogspot.com • Learn how local food systems are impacting local food and farmers markets across the state, Delayne Reeves, Marketing Representative Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Marketing and Promotions (Facilitator for panel presentation) • To receive registration materials or to obtain exhibitor information, contact Diane Handley at 309/557-2107 or Dhandley@ilfb.org

  45. 2011 Regional Farmers Market Forum Meetings MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!! Plan to attend one in your area: • Chicago February 16, 2011 • Springfield March 1, 2011 • Mt. Vernon March 3, 2011 • Dekalb March 9, 2011 More details will be distributed through IDOA’s blast email list in early 2011 -

  46. Check out these Resources • 2012 Illinois Specialty Crop Grant Program • USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program • COMING SOON! – Request For Proposals Information • http://www.agr.state.il.us/Grants/specialtycrops.html • IDOA’s websites • www.illinoiswherefreshis.com • Farmers Market Forum - http://www.agr.state.il.us/farmersmarket/ • USDA’s website • Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food • http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/knowyourfarmer?navid=KNOWYOURFARMER

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