• Brick & Mortar Link Match Grant Application

  • This application is for Brick and Mortar locations only - for farmers markets, farm stands, CSAs, etc. please return to www.LinkUpIL.org and apply through the 'Farm Direct' program application.

    Link Up Illinois works to increase affordable access to fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Illinois ‘Link’) recipients shopping at participating Illinois locations. Link Up Illinois provides grant funding, training, and technical assistance to participating venues across the state to implement Link Match programs. 

    With generous support from the USDA's GusNIP grant award program, the State of Illinois, and corporate and private donors, Link Up Illinois matches the value of Link purchases, giving Link customers greater buying power towards the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables. 

    This application should take you no more than 30 minutes to complete. You may save this application and continue later. Upon completion, you should receive a confirmation email about your application. Please notify us if you believe you submitted an application and did not receive confirmation.

    Applications are reviewed and approved throughout the year - there is no application deadline.


    Grant Award Amounts: Grant awards will vary based on store/market needs and capacity to operate the program. Link Up Illinois reserves the right to fund less than the requested amount.

    Program Requirements

    • Only stores/markets that are authorized by the USDA as SNAP retailers can apply for a Link Match grant.
    • Have a designated store/market manager (or equivalent) responsible for the project and sufficient organizational capacity to handle the associated accounting and reporting.
    • Participate in program onboarding training and evaluation.
    • Maintain records, input data in a designated data portal, provide data as required by Link Up Illinois funders, and submit an annual End-of-Year report in a format requested by Link Up Illinois.
    • Promote your market's Link Match program at your store/market and throughout your community, focusing especially on the low-income population.
    • Use approved Link Up Illinois Link Match program language for press releases and marketing materials concerning Link Up Illinois-funded programs.
    • List Link Up Illinois as a program sponsor in print and digital marketing, including the use of the Link Up Illinois logo.
    • Use Link Up Illinois Universal Link Match currency for the distribution and redemption of the Link Match incentive.
    • Link Match may only be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables sold at participating locations.


    As a Link Up Illinois Link Match grant recipient, you can expect us to:

    • Provide training and technical support for program implementation and strategies for community outreach and education.
    • Provide training on how to implement the Link Match program and distribute Link Match currency.
    • Provide training for data collection and submission using our designated data portal.
    • Provide digital marketing materials for your market to use for program promotion and customer education.


    Before beginning this application, it is suggested that you gather the following information (as applicable):

    • Contact information for all responsible parties (Market/Store Manager, Executive Director, etc.).
    • Accessibility information for your market/store.
    • SNAP transaction Federal Nutrition Service (FNS) certificate number
    • Employer Identification Number (EIN)
    • Dates, times, location(s) of your store(s)
    • Vendor information
    • Current incentive program information
    • Information about past grants and other funding sources.


    Funding for this project was provided in part by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). As such, if you are approved as a Link Match grantee, then we will be issuing a USDA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will be signed by the contract signee. If you're a returning partner, we will need to renew your MOU.

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

    To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

    (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

    (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

    (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

  • Organization Information

  • What is the tax status of the {sponsoringorg}?*
  • Does {sponsoringorg} have an FNS number?*
  • In addition to Link Match, will your store operate other Link/SNAP matching or discount programs?*

  • Contract Signee Information

    Please provide contact information for the person with authority to sign contracts (e.g. Executive Director, Store Owner, etc.) on behalf of your organization.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Is this your primary contact regarding application and program administration during the grant cycle?*

  • Primary Contact Information

    Please provide contact information for the best person to contact regarding your application and program during the grant cycle.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • General Information

  • What bests describes your store?*
  • Is {fiscal_MailingAddress} your store's physical address?*
  • Can you receive mail for {storename} at {storephysicalStreetAddress}?*
  • Is your store open 7 days a week?*
  • Are the hours of operation the same each day?*
  • What days is your store open?*
  • Until
  • Until
  • Until
  • Until
  • Until
  • Until
  • Until
  • Until
  • Until

  • Staff Information

  • Is {primarycontact_name} also the store manager?*
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Store Services and Details

  • Is your store ADA accessible?*
  • Do you accept any other Nutrition Assistance Programs? Select all that apply.*

  •  

    CSFP - Commodity Supplemental Food Program

    FDPIR - Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

    OTC Healthy Food - Over the Counter Healthy Food

    TANF - Termporary Assistanc efor Needy Families

    WIC - Women, Infant, and Children

  • Does your store offer in-store food or nutrition education ? Select all that apply*
  • Does you store offer any auxiliary services?*
  • What advertising/marketing strategies does your store use?*

  • Fresh Produce Procurement and Storage Capacity

  • In order to support local farmers, Link Up Illinois requests that partners source locally or regionally grown produce when possible. We define local as "produce grown within Illinois or within 250 miles," and regional as "produce grown within 400 miles." Does your store currently sell and track locally or regionally grown produce?*
  • Can you commit to having 25% of your produce come from local sources (saying no does not disqualify you from grant eligibility)?*

  • Store Technology and Systems

  • General Food Sales Data

  • Social Media and Website

  • Rows

  • Program Sustainability

  • How would you rate the current engagement level of your local community with regards to your store/market?*
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