GRANT PROGRAMS AND EQUIPMENT OPTIONS
Grant Programs There is a nationwide USDA-funded grant program that connects Maryland farmers markets and direct-marketing farmers with free SNAP/EBT equipment to process SNAP/EBT, SUN Bucks, eWIC, and credit/debit transactions. MarketLink, a program of the Farmers Food Assistance Bureau (FFAB) contracted by USDA to provide SNAP/EBT acceptance equipment and technical assistance, offers direct-marketing farmers and farmers markets a "bring your own device" mobile app-based system for accepting SNAP/EBT, SUN Bucks, eWIC, and credit/debit. MarketLink provides a free one-year subscription to TotilPay Go, a mobile app-based SNAP/EBT processing platform which is renewable each subsequent year by meeting a threshold of $500+ in SNAP sales. There are never any per-transaction fees for SNAP/EBT or eWIC sales, but there are fees for credit/debit, which can be processed through Square or Worldpay. The MarketLink program offers extensive technical assistance, including help with the USDA SNAP Retailer Authorization application. Learn more at MarketLink. Note: Those who do not qualify for MarketLink's free equipment program have the option to purchase a subscription to MarketLink's app- based equipment and enjoy MarketLink's no per-transaction fees for SNAP/EBT sales and other nationally negotiated benefits.
SNAP/EBT Equipment Options To spend their benefits, a SNAP recipient swipes their SNAP/EBT card on a SNAP-authorized retailer’s Point-Of-Sale (POS) device. A POS can be obtained in multiple ways. As an authorized SNAP retailer, you have the option of obtaining your equipment through available grants which can offset the cost for you, or you can choose to procure a POS through the merchant services department of your bank or other companies that sell POS equipment. Make sure if you choose to obtain your equipment outside of the available grant opportunities, that the POS device option you choose is already enabled to accept SNAP/EBT transactions. Online SNAP for Farmers Markets and Direct-Marketing Farmers Through a USDA grant, MarketLink now provides SNAP Online access to direct marketing farmers in collaboration with the eCommerce platform GrownBy. Since the grant cycle began, MarketLink has supported farmers in 34 states in adopting SNAP online services. MarketLink, in partnership with GrownBy, guides eligible farmers through every step of the process, providing comprehensive technical support. The SNAP Online grant covers one year of processing and eCommerce platform fees. Learn more at MarketLink.
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