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Implementing a new or improving your existing EBT program

Implementing a new or improving your existing EBT program . About the Materials. This PowerPoint was prepared using information from… Illinois Farmers Market LINK GUIDE. Developed By the Downtown Bloomington Farmers Market. The USDA’s SNAP at Farmers markets: A how-to handbook.

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Implementing a new or improving your existing EBT program

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  1. Implementing a new or improving your existing EBT program

  2. About the Materials • This PowerPoint was prepared using information from… • Illinois Farmers Market LINK GUIDE. • Developed By the Downtown Bloomington Farmers Market. • The USDA’s SNAP at Farmers markets: A how-to handbook. • SNAP/EBT at your Farmers Market Seven Steps to Success Guide. • Developed by Project for Public Spaces &Wholesome Wave • The following Case Studies. CS

  3. CS: 61st Street Farmers Market • Market Serving Chicago’s Woodlawn community. • 9am till 2pm on Saturdays. • 2010 Season from May 15th - Dec 18th • 15-20 vendors (all food). • LINK program, WIC, and Farmers Market Coupons. • Strategically located between University of Chicago & Woodlawn (food desert). • The first market in Illinois to implement Wholesome Wave’s Double Value Coupon Program.

  4. CS: City of Chicago’s Farmers Market • 5 markets spread throughout Chicago. • 7am - 1pm (Daley Plaza 7am-3pm) S,T,W,Th,S. • 2010 season from May 15th – Oct 30th • 2- 26 vendors (Farmers and Merchants). • Pilot year LINK program. • WIC / Farmers Market coupons. • Wholesome Wave DVCP

  5. Sorting out the terminology: LINK, EBT, SNAP, and Food Stamps

  6. Sorting out the terminology: LINK, EBT, SNAP, and Food Stamps • SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as "food stamps” • Administered by the USDA office of Food and Nutrition Services(FNS). • Federal program that helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for good health. • EBT: Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is an electronic system that allows recipients to access their SNAP benefits using a card similar to a credit card.

  7. Sorting out the terminology: LINK, EBT, SNAP, and Food Stamps

  8. Sorting out the terminology: LINK, EBT, SNAP, and Food Stamps cont.. • LINK: The name for the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system used in Illinois to distribute food and cash assistance benefits, including SNAP. • The card used to redeem benefits is known as a Link card. Each state has a different name for its EBT system-- for example, Louisiana Purchase, Golden State Advantage (California), Oregon Trail, Lone Star (Texas), or Hoosier Works (Indiana).

  9. Helps Families Make Healthier Choices SNAP-Eligible Food Purchases

  10. Assists People in Transition National Characteristics of SNAP Households Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2009, USDA FNS

  11. SNAP Benefit recipients US

  12. SNAP Benefit recipients Surrounding Counties 2011

  13. SNAP Benefit $$$ in Billions as of 1/31/2011

  14. Is a LINK Program Feasible for your Market? • Concentration of LINK users in your area • Is your market at or near a low-income area? • Is your market easily accessible via public transportation? • Close to senior centers, churches, or community centers? • LINK per ZIP-Illinois Dept. of Human Services. 

  15. Is a LINK Program Feasible for your Market? * Staffing and support • LINK/EBT coordinator • Works the LINK booth/tent/table • Keeps track of receipts, tokens, incentive program • Prepares accounting reports

  16. Is a LINK Program Feasible for your Market? • Backroom Accounting • Processes checks for vendors • Pays transaction fees if any • Between 2-4 hours work per week

  17. What’s the costCS: City of Chicago Lincoln Square Market ($4828 in LINK sales 677 trans)

  18. Voucher System – Free EBT only machineProvided by the USDA Voucher System Free EBT only machine Need a Phone line & Electricity. On the spot approval. Pay 2 business days. Pay NO Transaction fee. Can be used with Voucher System • Record LINK holder info on Voucher / receipt. • Call in the to approve the amount (need Cell). • Must send in vouchers to USDA for payment. • Pay NO Transaction fee.

  19. What’s could your costs be. Projected Cost with free or rented machine for a 21 vendor market

  20. Total Merchant Services Free, rent, or own Wireless Machine. You can get a free Wireless machine, rent, or buy. Warranty program that pays for equipment, online access to your account, and a 25% discount on Fed Ex shipments. For new markets they will even fill out your FNS application for you. Initial start-up cost $100.00 set up fee. Average market can expect to pay $100-$150 per month for transaction, service, and rental fees. www.totalmerchantservices.com

  21. What’s could your costs be. Projected Cost with free or rented machine for a 21 vendor market

  22. Get your Farmers/Vendors On Board Benefits of accepting SNAP/LINK • Opens up new markets. • Providing Nutrient Dense foods to underserved community. • Guaranteed Payment in a timely manner. • Give numbers for other programs across the State

  23. CS: City of Chicago’s Farmers Market • All 5 Markets average • Transaction amount $8.18 • # of transaction 30 • Total daily amount $245.00 • At Daley Plaza (highest producing Market) • Transaction amount $9.13 • # of transaction 73 • Total daily amount $671.00

  24. CS: 61st Street Farmers Market • Link program started in 2008 and numbers steadily grew.

  25. Basic First Steps • Apply to with Food and Nutrition Service http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/application-process.htm • Online application. • Turn around time less then 45 days, faster for Farmers Markets. • Determine How to process payments • Free EBT only Machine from FNS • Need phone line and electricity • Voucher • Can combine with EBT machine • Buy, rent, or get FREE Wireless Machine from third party processer • Responsible for processing fees

  26. Why do we need a special Program for LINK? • Multiple vendors, One POS device/system • With an EBT program you can use one machine to conduct transaction for multiple vendors.

  27. How SNAP/LINK works in the Market • Needs a special redemption system • Since most farmers/vendors do not have a machine at their stand for processing, a method of exchanging food for payment needs to be in place. • Token, Script, or Receipt?

  28. How SNAP/LINK works in the Market • Token/Paper System • Purchased by the LINK user from Market Manager • Given directly to Farmer to buy food • Farmer turns tokens in to Market Manager for credit

  29. How SNAP/LINK works in the Market • Receipt System • LINK user goes to Farmer first. • Receives a “CHIT” • Goes to Market Manager to pay for items. • Takes Receipt back to Farmer to Pick up food. Farmer John $10.00 Apples

  30. Ideas on Improving your existing program? • Incentive Programs – • City of Chicago $5 a day match • 61st Street Farmers Market $25 a day match • Of the nearly $60K redeemed at IL. FM’s over $40K came from markets with Double Value Coupon Programs.

  31. Ideas on Improving your existing program? • Organize a bus route/delivery • Donation of phone line and electricity from host site (If possible) • Flyers at local government agencies / business

  32. Links to resources • Where Fresh is and Illinois Farmers Market LINK GUIDE • http://www.agr.state.il.us/farmersmarket/ • USDA’s SNAP at Farmers markets: • http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5085298&acct=wdmgeninfo • SNAP/EBT at your Farmers Market Seven Steps to Success Guide. • http://www.pps.org/pdf/SNAP_EBT_Book.pdf • Total Merchant Services. • http://www.totalmerchantservices.com/total-merchant-services-home

  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

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