Public-Private Collaborations
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program:
Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)
NAAMO 2015 Conference, Salem MA
Collaborative Efforts: Examples
1.
Farmers’ Market Working Group
2.
SNAP – EBT Equipment at Farmers’ Markets
3.
Inter-Departmental Farmers’ Market Tours
4.
Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP)
5.
SNAP CSA Recurring Payment Pilot
6.
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI)
Grant Program
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What is FINI?
 Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program (FINI)
 USDA-NIFA: National grant program – $31.5 million in FY14/FY15
 Supports projects to increase the purchase of fruits and
vegetables among SNAP clients by providing incentives at the
point of sale
 Three categories of projects requested:
 Tier 1: FINI Pilot Projects-FPP
 Tier 2: FINI Multi-year Community-based Projects-FP
 Tier 3: FINI Multi-year Large-Scale Projects-FLSP
 RFA based on best practice –Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP)
 DTA was awarded a Tier 3 FINI grant on April 1, 2015
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FINI Project:
Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)
 Expansion of the Healthy Incentives Pilot = Healthy Incentives Program
 Massachusetts statewide coalition
 Builds upon established HIP infrastructure and lessons learned
 Provides an incentive benefit statewide at the following points of sale:
 Seasonal and winter Farmers’ Markets
 Farm Stands
 Mobile Markets
 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Programs
 Dollar for dollar match for F&V purchases, $40/$60/$80 cap per month
 Available to SNAP clients statewide
 Incentive instantly applied to SNAP customers’ EBT card
 Culturally appropriate foods
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HIP Goals & Outcomes
 Project goals:
 Reduce barriers to SNAP client and retailer participation
 Increase availability of locally grown fruits and vegetables for
SNAP clients
 Assess the impact of the new incentive program on participants’
purchase of fruits and vegetables to inform future expansion
 Intended project outcomes:
 Increased purchase of fruits and vegetables by SNAP clients
 Increased usage of SNAP benefits for purchasing locally grown
fruits and vegetables at the four points of sale
 Established sustainable statewide matching/incentive program
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HIP Points of Access
Overview of the Four HIP Points of Access:
1. Seasonal & Winter Farmers’ Markets: Expands HIP
implementation using one of the four modes of EBT
processing. Includes Boston Bounty Bucks digitization, and the
new Boston Public Market.
2. Farm Stands: Utilizes a wireless option, mobile platforms, or
Xerox land-line terminals for processing.
3. Mobile Markets: Utilizes a wireless option or mobile platforms
for processing.
4. CSA: Initiated via completion of CSA Membership Agreement,
serves as client receipt, payments on client’s monthly benefit
availability date.
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HIP Coalition
 Massachusetts’ Interdepartmental partnership (DTA, DAR, DPH) with
support of broad, diverse coalition of statewide community partners.
 Primary Regional Partners: Southeast, Eastern, Northeast, Central,
Western

Federation Mass Farmers Markets

“Buy Locals” (9)

Project Bread

Food Banks (4)

UMass Stockbridge School of Agriculture

DTA-SNAP Nutrition Education (SNAP Ed) Providers

WIC Program Community Coordinators & Local Offices

Mass in Motion (27 Grantees—60 Communities)
 Local community partners, direct farms, farmers’ markets
 Mass Convergence Partnership and Associated Grant Makers
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Regional Approach
 Mirrors current DTA SNAP Nutrition Education Geographic Service
Area (GSA) based on 22 DTA service areas:
 Southeast Region: Brockton, Fall River, Hyannis, New Bedford,
Plymouth, Taunton
 Eastern Region: Dudley, Newmarket
 Northeast Region: Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, Malden, North
Shore
 Central Region: Fitchburg, Framingham, Southbridge,
Worcester
 Western Region: Greenfield, Holyoke, Pittsfield, Springfield
State, Springfield Liberty
 Takes into account cultural and operational differences.
 Utilizes existing network of community partners.
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HIP Coalition Networks & Linkages
1. Outreach
2. Marketing
3. Education
SNAP Clients &
Retailers
Local Community Partners
4. Training
5. Support
DTA TAOs & Advisory Boards +
WIC Offices & MiM Communities
Regional Partners – HIP Advisory
Committees
DTA/MDAR/DPH
Evaluation & Reporting
 Rigorous self-evaluation (process and outcome) – State
contractor
 Comprehensive program evaluation - Independent
federal contractor
 Required to participate
 Contribute to minimum data set
 Collaborate with independent evaluator to identify
comparison sites
 State reporting requirements, for subawardees and
subgrantees
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HIP Timeframe
April, 2015:
Award announced
July 2015 – September 2016:
Planning, development and systems testing phase
April 2017 – March 2020:
Operation phase of project (3 years)
April 2020 – June 2020:
HIP operations close out & final reporting
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What was HIP? (reference slide)

Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP)

Authorized in 2008 US Farm Bill

Rigorously evaluated demonstration grant

Only one of its kind in the country

Tested the effects of providing a financial incentive

Pilot site in Hampden County, Massachusetts

HIP was implemented from November 1, 2011 through
December 31, 2012
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For More Information
Frank Martinez Nocito
Assistant Director, SNAP Nutrition Education
Department of Transitional Assistance
frank.martineznocito@state.ma.us
(413) 858-1380
www.mass.gov/dta/hip
HIP reports available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/hip/
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