CFAC Research Project: Expanding Double SNAP Dollars Equitably

The Community Food and Agriculture Coalition (CFAC) is a local Missoula nonprofit that works to grow a healthy food community and make food accessible for all. CFAC coordinates Double SNAP Dollars (DSD), a program since 2015 that allows eligible Montanans to double their benefit dollars from SNAP to purchase fresh and local food. CFAC’s Equity and Growth Subcommittee is currently looking to expand the DSD program in Montana equitably after receiving a grant from the USDA. This report used data on counties within Montana to determine areas of priority for DSD expansion based on SNAP participation, percentage of population over 65, food insecurity rate, and percentage identifying as Native American or Alaskan Native. Individual locations were evaluated using criteria of county food insecurity rate, county SNAP usage, opportunity zone, rural, tribally owned/operated, located in Central/Eastern Montana, and if a location currently accepts SNAP. Using Excel 2013, two matrices were created to provide CFAC with information on where to best expand the DSD program. The first matrix used 4 sets of data to evaluate counties and give a score to determine how much of a priority DSD expansion should be in a given county. These sets of data were SNAP participation, percentage of population over 65, food insecurity rate, and percentage identifying as Native American or Alaskan Native. The Excel formula gave each county a score out of 20 based on the percentage of each of the 4 categories. Each county was ranked based on the scores determined by the first matrix and color coded on a GIS map to visualize counties of greatest need in Montana. The top five counties in Montana were Big Horn, Glacier, Lake, Roosevelt, and Rosebud counties. The second matrix was for direct market farms, farmers markets, and retail market locations CFAC identified as potential future DSD locations. This excel matrix gave each potential location a score based on the factors the location has, and a higher score representing a higher priority for expansion. The factors were based on the location’s County food insecurity rate, County SNAP usage, Opportunity Zone, Rural/Urban, Tribally Owned/Operated, in Central or Eastern Montana, and if the location accepts SNAP. Each of these factors were multiplied by a weight determined in meetings with the Growth and Equity Subcommittee to give certain factors more importance in DSD expansion. These results were analyzed to provide recommendations to CFAC on locations and counties to prioritize expansion of the DSD program. This approach used original excel formulas to quantify location and county data to assist CFAC in expanding the DSD program. Using weighting factors allows the formulas adapt if priorities change or certain factors are determined to be more important. Additional locations can be inputted into the matrix and scored to determine priority of expansion. The county matrix formula can be used with different data to rank counties based on other factors. The matrices developed in this report offer a county-level glimpse into the needs of Montanans and where to prioritize expanding the DSD program to