USDA
(Harrisburg, PA, October 9, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award $10 million in grants to strengthen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training programs (SNAP E&T), which help participants gain the skills, training, or work experience they need to move toward and into employment. USDA is providing more than $6.7 million in SNAP E&T National Partnership Grants to help four national non-profit organizations expand program capacity to serve SNAP participants and over $3.2 million in SNAP E&T Data and Technical Assistance (DATA) Grants to support improved E&T data collection and reporting across five SNAP state agencies.
“As the U.S. economy continues to reopen, now is the time to reorient our programs to connect with families and stand beside them with the tools necessary to overcome barriers and inspire hope,” said Secretary Perdue. “President Trump has made it clear he stands with the American worker and programs like E&T help ensure Americans are equipped with the skills to be successful in today’s labor market. These grants will ensure USDA and its partners are providing folks not only with access to adequate nutrition, but also with pathways to economic stability and long-term success.”
“In every community where Goodwill® operates, we meet people who are determined to develop their skills so they can build their own economic success stories,” said Steven C. Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International (GII). “The investment from the USDA will play a crucial role in helping Goodwill organizations expand their SNAP Employment and Training programs and give individuals and their families access to educational programs and resources, and job training and employment services to help them during this exceptional time.”