*This application is for Farm Direct applicants (farmers markets, farm stands, CSAs, mobile markets, etc.) If you are an interested Brick and Mortar applicant fill out these preliminary questions. Thank you!*

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 farmers markets, farm stands, CSAs, food co-ops, and brick and mortar stores. 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, the City of Chicago, 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 20-25 minutes to complete. 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.

Apply by April 1, 2025 in order to be included in our 2025 Link Match partner brochure. 

 

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.

Use of Grant Funds:

• A minimum of 80% of grant funds must be used to cover Link Match voucher reimbursements for purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables by SNAP customers.
• A maximum of 20% of grant funds may be spent to cover costs related to program implementation and administration, program outreach and marketing, data collection and reporting, and program evaluation

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, and location of your programs
• Vendor information
• Current incentive program information

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.

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.

If you run a winter or indoor market please include as a second market. We want to keep outdoor and indoor markets separate and clear so we can encourage Link Match users to use their vouchers there! Often winter/indoor markets have different addresses, times, and frequencies so having all that clear in your application helps us communicate to potential customers.