The National Grocers Association has launched its SNAP EBT Modernization Technical Assistance Center (SEMTAC) website to assist grocers with their SNAP online purchasing pilot questions, according to a Monday announcement.
The website serves as a comprehensive resource hub that provides information and technical assistance to food retailers currently offering or considering SNAP online purchasing.
SEMTAC aims to support grocers in underserved areas where retailers are less familiar with the platforms or the technical requirements for implementing SNAP online purchasing. The website provides access to USDA-approved resources and personalized, one-on-one technical assistance.
“The hands-on approach ensures that all retailers have the necessary support to successfully establish their SNAP eCommerce presence,” the announcement noted.
The NGA’s new website also offers updates and technical support on other SNAP modernization updates, such as the mobile payments pilot, according to the press release.
Monday’s announcement noted that the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) funded the creation of SEMTAC, noting the website is a cooperative agreement between FNS and the trade group.
At the beginning of this year, the NGA announced it received a $5 million grant from the USDA to create a technical assistance center to help grocers implement SNAP payments for online orders as well as support mobile payments pilot for SNAP recipients.
Grocers’ continued expansion of SNAP online acceptance comes after SNAP emergency allotments, which were doled out at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, ended earlier this year. This change impacted more than two dozen states, Guam and Washington, D.C.
SNAP online purchasing is becoming more accessible, with the USDA announcing in June that all 50 states are able to offer the e-commerce service. In late October, Kroger announced expanding the use of the SNAP benefits for online purchases chainwide.
