Policy and Budget Wins for Food Security in Vermont!

A long and eventful legislative session wrapped up in early June. We are celebrating progress on all of our Food Security Coalition's policy slate, thanks to the hard work of Coalition Members, Allies, advocates, Legislators, and community members. The session held many twists and turns on the road to food security, and we are grateful to be on that road together. Learn more about the Vermont Food Security Coalition here, and read our end-of-session policy updates below. Are you interested in joining the food security caravan? Consider becoming a Coalition Ally.

• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): A total of $157,000 was appropriated to increase access to meals and snacks in child care settings. This money will allow sponsor organizations to continue operating the CACFP for Family Child Care Homes and start outreach to bring the CACFP to even more providers.
• 3SquaresVT/SNAP funding: Full funding was included in the budget to ensure the Agency of Human Services has the administrative resources needed to operate 3SquaresVT, in light of a 25% reduction in federal funding. This means that Vermont protected the operation of this program for the 60,000 shoppers who tap into it, and the 600+ grocers and farmers who depend on it for their bottom lines. 
• Benefit Assisters: $3.5 million was allocated for 3SquaresVT and Medicaid benefit assistance at service-providing organizations to help Vermonters navigate complex changes to eligibility and paperwork requirements for both programs. This investment supports the best outcomes for Vermonters by ensuring all eligible people are able to stay enrolled in these important benefit programs AND keeps federal dollars in our state.
• Land Access & Opportunity Board (LAOB): The Land Access & Opportunity Board received a $1.6 million base appropriation in the budget. LAOB has statutory powers and duties to improve land and housing access among historically marginalized or disadvantaged communities in Vermont, and the funds ensure their advisory and grant-making work will continue to serve Vermonters. 
• Local Food Security at Farmers Markets & CSAs: The legislature allocated $350,000 for the  Farm Share, Crop Cash, and Crop Cash Plus programs at NOFA-VT. Funds will allow these programs to continue to serve both our low-income shoppers who want local food and our farmers who are growing that food.
• Vermont Foodbank: The budget included two appropriations to support the needs of neighbors and Foodbank's Network of partner food shelves and meal sites serving people’s basic food needs.   A $250,000 allocation to the Vermonter Feeding Vermonters grant program will allow the Foodbank to purchase  Vermont-grown food directly from farms and distribute it through Vermont Foodbank’s Network. $550,000 was allocated to the General Fund for direct aid to the Vermont Foodbank’s network partners through an equitable statewide distribution of food or subgrants, or both.
• Ready Response: H. 935 establishes the Ready Response program within the Division of Emergency Management. "Ready response” means the provision of short-term food and bottled water resources during emergency events. The program will award an annual grant to an eligible food bank to source, store, and distribute shelf-stable, ready-to-eat foods and bottled water, thus better preparing Vermont communities for emergency situations.
• Farm & Forestry Operations Security Special Fund: Vermont now has a  Fund to ensure farmers and loggers have financial assistance they need to recover from the impacts of extreme weather. We all rely on farms, and we are all responsible for supporting farmers as they face increased climate instability, particularly as Vermont’s small, diversified farms are left out of federal programs designed to stabilize agriculture in times of crisis. We will continue to work to appropriate money to the fund
• Working Lands Enterprise Fund: This effective grantmaking program received $1 million in the budget. The Fund increases capacity for in-state production by helping businesses to grow, and demand has outstripped the funds available for many years.