Meeting Date: September 8, 2025
Title
Potential Impacts to Rutherford County if North Carolina Withdraws from SNAP
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Summary:
summary
DSS Director Delores Hunt will provide an update on the federal impact on the Medicaid and SNAP programs.
Below is critical information regarding the potential impact on Rutherford County should North Carolina opt out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The most recent data from June 2025 illustrates just how significant this program is to Rutherford County’s local community:
- Participants: 12,600
- Households: 6,587
- FNS Benefits Issued: $2,081,846
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), every dollar issued in SNAP benefits generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in economic activity. This impact is realized through grocery retailers hiring and paying staff, replenishing inventory, and covering operational costs like utilities.
Applying this multiplier to June 2025 benefits issuance:
- At $1.50: $3,122,769 in local economic impact
- At $1.80: $3,747,322.80 in local economic impact
This represents a significant monthly contribution to Rutherford County’s economy. Opting out of SNAP could have a ripple effect on other USDA-supported programs as well, including free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs in our school systems, and summer feeding programs. These initiatives are vital to the health and well-being of Rutherford County’s children and families.
Finally, several other benefits and services use SNAP participation as a gateway for automatic enrollment. For example, SNAP participants is an automatic enrollment in other programs such as WIC, LEIAP, etc. Discontinuing SNAP would likely complicate access to these essential supports for eligible residents.
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Budget:
N/A
Contact Information:
Delores Hunt, DSS Director
828-287-6171
delores.hunt@rutherfordcountync.gov
Recommended Motion:
recommended action
Information only.