WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2004 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today awarded approximately $1.7 million to seven States and the District of Columbia. These grants are awarded to help States develop, implement and evaluate new or innovative methods of service delivery to meet the changing needs of WIC participants.

"President Bush is strongly committed to providing a healthy start for women and children through this important program," said Veneman. "These grants help States develop, implement and evaluate new strategies to promote breastfeeding and increase fruit and vegetable consumption among WIC participants."

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children - better known as the WIC Program - serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. More than 7 million people get WIC benefits each month.

"WIC is a proven, effective program with results and is helping build a stronger, healthier America by providing nutrition assistance and promoting healthy eating that includes fresh fruits and vegetables," said Veneman.

The grant awards to States are part of USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Revitalizing Quality Nutrition Services in WIC (RQNS) initiative. The goal of RQNS is to improve and strengthen the effectiveness of WIC nutrition services. Two different types of grants were awarded this year. Full grant funding is provided for three years to States that develop, implement and evaluate innovative strategies to promote breastfeeding and increase fruit and vegetable intake among WIC children and families through nutrition education and counseling activities. Full grant funding was awarded to California, Michigan and Oregon.

North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, West Virginia and the District of Columbia were each awarded $15,000 grants for one year to develop their concept papers into full grant proposals on how to improve consumption of fruit and vegetables among WIC participants. These grant proposals will be submitted for grant consideration next year.

The grant awards are:

Full Grants

• California: ($450,000)
• Michigan: ($456,288)
• Oregon: ($658,154)

Concept Papers

• North Carolina: ($15,000)
• Oregon: ($15,000)
• Vermont: ($15,000)
• Washington, D.C.: ($15,000)
• West Virginia: ($15,000)

For more information on the WIC program visit the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service Web site at http://www.fns.usda.gov.