Summit County to use restricted funds and grocery vouchers to preserve WIC benefits during federal funding lapse

Summit County health officials told the Board of Health that the county will prepare to use restricted local funds and a grocery-store vouchering system to ensure enrolled WIC participants continue to receive basic food needs if state funding runs out.

At the meeting the health department’s director described the risk: the federal continuing resolution has partially funded SNAP but left uncertainty for other programs, and the state has told local departments it can temporarily continue WIC but those state funds may be exhausted. The director said the department has been negotiating with the county CFO and county council and will tap restricted-use county funds if the state notifies local departments that WIC benefits will be cut.

Why it matters: WIC provides monthly food benefits to eligible families, and local officials said abrupt disruption in benefits could leave households without formula or other staples. The department…