Additional Funding for Local WIC Agencies

Purpose of Project
To promote WIC services for program recruitment and retention through outreach projects across the state of Minnesota. Local agencies are uniquely positioned to understand the needs of the community and where outreach opportunities exist.

Past project summaries

• 2024 Outreach Grant Projects (PDF)
• 2023 Outreach Grant Projects (PDF)

Funding Opportunity
Funding of up to $3,000 is available to local WIC agencies. Funds must be used by Sept. 30, 2024. We will select as many projects as possible up to $25,000. Please feel free to propose activities that best meet the needs of your community.

The funds must be used for WIC allowable expenses. Refer to WIC Costs: Allowable and Unallowable (PDF) for details.

Allowable Expenses

• Community event activities – such as August chest/breastfeeding awareness and tabling at county or health fairs.
• Advertising campaigns and promotion such as social media, print media, billboards, etc.
• Promotion, educational, or advertising materials including WIC clinic signage.
• Outreach items such as tablecloths or retractable signs.
• Increasing awareness of the full array of WIC services.
• Working with community partners to increase referrals to WIC.

Not allowable

• Food, refreshments, decorations, entertainment, equipment, space rental or farmers’ market items.

Important Dates:

• Applications due April 12, 2024.
• Notification of award will be provided by April 26, 2024.
• Funds must be spent by Sept. 30, 2024.
• Final Evaluation Report due Sept. 30, 2024.

Information Needed to Apply

1. Main contact person name and information.

2. Amount of funding request and itemized budget. Note: Budget should include all materials, rental, advertising, promotion, etc. that will be part of your project or event. Provide as much detail as possible.

3. Description of the project or activity and how it will promote WIC Services for program recruitment and retention.

4. Why is this needed in your community and how will you include input from the community in the project? (25 points).

5. Describe the potential impact and what you hope to accomplish, along with how the outreach project or activity will target your community (25 points).

6. Describe how you will evaluate your project or activity and demonstrate reach (25 points).

Final Report 
After activity/project, submit a report on the project, activity, or event:

1. Project summary

2. Please include any of the following with your report: a. Samples of materials (a photo or digital file of the material) b. Event Details (attendance information, partners, location, hours, promotion, staffing) c. Photos of activities d. List of participants e. Feedback from staff/volunteers and comments from those participating.

3. Evaluation results.

4. Final budget report with actual costs. Note: Expense report should include all materials, rental, advertising, promotion, etc. that were part of the project or event. Break down costs as much detail as possible. Please see the Example Budget Form (EXCEL).

5. Final comments on challenges, lessons learned, and suggestions for future projects.

Application Review
Applications will be reviewed by Minnesota WIC staff.

Questions 
Contact Megan Leonard, 651-201-4083, Megan.Leonard@state.mn.us

2024 FUNDING INFORMATION

Purpose of Project
To promote equity in lactation support across the state of Minnesota. Local agencies are uniquely positioned to understand the needs of the community and where opportunities exist. Projects incorporating culturally relevant lactation promotion and support, along with efforts to establish or strengthen community partnerships will be prioritized.

To see projects from previous years: Local Agency Breastfeeding Spotlights: Promoting Equity in Lactation

Funding Opportunity
Funding of up to $5,000 is available to Local WIC Agencies that are partnering with Community Organizations and/or Cultural/Local/Regional Breastfeeding Coalitions. Funds must be used by September 30th, 2024. We will select as many as possible up to $25,000.

The following list gives examples of ways to utilize the funding but is not inclusive. Please feel free to propose activities that best meet the needs of your community.

• Coalition building and leadership
• Chest/breastfeeding promotion or educational materials
• Lactation training to serve communities with disparities
• Normalization of lactation

Important Dates

• Applications due March 27, 2024.
• Notification of award will be provided by April 15, 2024.
• Funds must be spent by September 30, 2024.
• Final Evaluation Report due September 30, 2024.

Application Information
Applications closed.

Information needed to apply:
1. Main contact person name and information

2. Amount of funding request and itemized budget. Note: Budget should include all materials, rental, promotion, etc. that will be part of your project or event. Provide as much detail as possible.

3. Description of the project, and how it will promote equity in lactation for the targeted population/community.

4. Why this is needed, barriers/challenges identified, what you hope to accomplish, and how it will help support equity in lactation in your community.

5. Describe your partnership with a community organization and/or cultural/local/regional breastfeeding coalition and how your proposal will prioritize leadership from the BIPOC community.

6. How you will evaluate your project or activity.

Final Report
After activity/project, submit a report on the project, activity, or event:

1. Project summary

2. Please include any of the following with your report:

• Samples of materials (a photo or digital file of the material)
• Event Details (attendance information, partners, location, hours, promotion, staffing)
• Photos of activities
• List of participants
• Feedback from staff/volunteers and comments from those participating

3. Evaluation results

4. Final budget report with actual costs. Note: Expense report should include all materials, rental, promotion, etc. that were part of the project or event. Break down costs as much as possible. Please see the Example Budget Form (EXCEL).

5. Final comments on challenges, lessons learned, and suggestions for future projects Application Review

Application Review

• Applications will be reviewed by Minnesota WIC staff.
• Priority of funding will be given to proposals that include leadership from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

Questions?
Contact Rosie Pierce-Martin, 651-201-4428, Rosie.Pierce-Martin@state.mn.us

The Community Partnership Collaborative is an opportunity to get support with implementing a new lactation-related project or accelerating a project you’re already working on.

Coffective can provide:

• Coaching
• Technical assistance
• A $5,000 stipend
• Opportunities to connect and learn from other WIC agencies across the Midwest region as you work on the project of your choice.

The timeframe is Spring 2024 – September 30, 2024, and the time commitment is on average 3-4 hours per month.

To apply: Complete the 2024 Coffective Community Partnership Collaborative interest form by March 27, 2024.

Review the linked Community Partnership Collaborative – Overview (PDF) for more details on project ideas, timeframes, funding and participation requirements.

Questions?
Contact Rosie Pierce-Martin, 651-201-4428, Rosie.Pierce-Martin@state.mn.us.

Goal: To improve the shopping experience for LEP participants.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA ) modernization grant funding opportunities are available. These funds support MN WIC local agencies to find creative and innovative solutions to improve the shopping experience for LEP participants. Five local WIC agencies will be awarded up to $10,000 each. Funding priority will be given to agencies that have a caseload at or above 10% LEP participants.

Local Agency ideas:

The following list provides some ideas of ways to use the grant funds. Be creative with what could work in your community and local agency. Additional activities and ideas are encouraged.

• Hire Community Health Workers (CHW) or a peer shopping assistant to help with grocery store tours and shopping for WIC allowed foods.
• Collaborate with community organizations about shopping for WIC foods.
• Make CHW staff available to help field questions regarding shopping. (phone, text)
• Supplement staff time to help with the WIC shopping experience. (be specific)

Important dates 
Applications due Mar. 15, 2024 (send on Word document to your State WIC Consultant) 
Notification of award - May 2024 
Funds must be spent by Sept. 30, 2026. 
Final report due by Oct. 31, 2026.

Please include the following in your application 
1. Main contact person name and information 
2. Describe your proposed project and how it will improve the shopping experience in your community. Identify project goals and objectives. (20 points) 
3. Describe your population and the challenges WIC participants might have with the shopping experience in your community. Please use the Infoview report Statewide Count & Percentage of Participants Needing an Interpreter by Agency, indicated on the Infoview Report Template Reference (PDF), to help get a sense of your LEP caseload over the past 1 year. 
4. Describe your population and the challenges WIC participants might have with the shopping experience in your community. Higher priority will be given to agencies with higher LEP caseloads. (15 points) 
5. Please provide an itemized budget with as much detail as possible. Note: budget should include all materials, staff time, travel costs, etc. (5 points) 
6. Describe your project timeline. (5 points?) 
7. Describe how you will evaluate your project (10 points)

Expectations:

• Meet deadlines.
• Communicate any support needs with MDH staff.
• Gather feedback from participants, stores, and staff on how this project helped.
• Document and share learned lessons for other agencies.
• Provide quarterly report on project and funding to MDH staff.
• Consult with MDH Vendor Unit Staff.

Final Report 
After project, submit a report on the project: : 
1. Include project summary. 
2. Include any of the following with your report: any developed materials (photos, digital file), feedback from participants, staff, grocery store staff, and/or partners. Please take photos or capture quotes/feedback. 
3. Final budget report with actual costs. 
4. Final comments on challenges, lessons learned, suggestions. 

Application Review 
Applications will be reviewed by Minnesota WIC staff.

Questions: 
Contact your State WIC Consultant.

Minnesota WIC has been awarded a grant to financially support the continuing education of paraprofessional WIC staff, including the coursework required by WIC policy and an elective certificate program. The grant funding is available through September 2024. The goals of this grant are to:

• provide meaningful continuing education to the paraprofessional staff that are integral to meeting the cultural and language needs of Minnesota WIC participants.
• increase job satisfaction and retention among paraprofessional staff.
• increase job performance and provide an opportunity for advancement among paraprofessional staff.
• support an equitable, diverse, and robust workforce among Minnesota WIC local agencies

For additional information and how to apply see previous memos:

• Funding Opportunity for Paraprofessional Staff Update (PDF)
• Funding Opportunity for Paraprofessional Staff (PDF)