Meeting Public Comments

Paige Chickering [Save the Children Action Network]

Thank you so much for including continued funding for the Choose Iowa Purchasing Pilot in this budget! As you finalize this budget, I want to urge you to increase funding for the Choose Iowa Purchasing Program. This program helps connect local food producers with schools and food banks, simultaneously helping to address food insecurity while supporting local farmers and the Iowan economy.Recently, USDA cancelled two similar federal programs, the Local Foods for Schools (LFS) and Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) programs, taking away 11.3 million dollars in funding that Iowan farmers, schools, and food banks were counting on.Our state has a critical opportunity through the budget process to increase investment in the Choose Iowa Purchasing Program to help fill the gaps left by the loss of federal support. I know you have many hard budget decisions ahead of you but increasing the funding for this program will make a big difference for food insecure Iowans and farmers alike.Any increase for the choose Iowa Purchasing Program would go a long way in helping farmers, food banks, and schools get the support they need after the loss of federal funds. Thank you for your consideration,Paige ChickeringIowa State ManagerSave the Children Action Network