VILSACK ANNOUNCES $8.5 MILLION IN RECOVERY GRANTS BE AWARDED TO WIC
News Date September 29, 2009
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced last week that approximately $8.5 million in recovery act grants will be awarded to selected state agencies to improve special supplemental nutrition programs for women, infants, and children (WIC). The appropriations will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will provide WIC recipients with an easier way to purchase nutritious foods.
"WIC is a proven, effective program and is helping build a stronger, healthier America by providing nutrition assistance, promoting healthy eating and encouraging physical activity," Vilsack said at the national 'Healthy Kids, Healthy Future' conference in Washington, D.C. last week. The WIC Program safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and counseling and health service referrals.
The funds are obligated to eleven states, nine WIC state agencies will be awarded approximately $3 million for Electronic Benefit Transfer planning projects and the remaining $5.3 million of the funds will be awarded to two WIC state agencies for modern computer systems that will help administer WIC programs. (By: Preston Asay, Policy Contact: Amy Mann)