Pilot project doubles value of food stamps at Lawrence farmers’ markets

The Douglas County Commission and the city of Lawrence are supporting a pilot project to allow food stamp recipients to double their funds while shopping at farmers’ markets.

The county commission on Wednesday agreed to invest $10,600 in the project, one day after Lawrence city commissioners did the same.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the program will give food stamp users more money to spend at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market and Cottin’s Hardware Farmers’ Market.

For example, if a food stamp recipient spends $40 at one of the markets, half the money would be from food stamps and other half from the program. The project was proposed by LiveWell Lawrence, which is contributing $3,800.

The program will run from June through September or until the funds run out.

This story was originally published April 24, 2014 at 8:33 AM with the headline "Pilot project doubles value of food stamps at Lawrence farmers’ markets."