The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed into law last week eliminated funding for SNAP-Ed, which supports the Cent$ible Nutrition Program in providing nutrition education for families and individuals across Wyoming.
“Without SNAP-Ed funding, CNP will have to shutter programming in much of Wyoming,” CNP Educator Jolene Velarde said in a letter to Fremont County program partners last week. “In the next few weeks, I will be winding down programming in Fremont County. It has been a pleasure to work with you and make a difference in our community.”
Currently, CNP provides programming in every county in Wyoming and on the Wind River Reservation, delivering free nutrition education programs in community settings, including public schools, University of Wyoming Extension offices, veteran programs, income-based housing, and senior centers.
In 2024, 95 percent of CNP participants reported that they had improved their diet quality, and 92 percent reported that they had improved their food resource management skills, according to a press release from the UW Extension.
Participants also saved an average of $53 per month on groceries, and 73 percent increased their physical activity, reducing both financial strain and risk of chronic disease.
CNP works with community organizations as well, including food pantries, childcare centers, senior centers and farmers markets, to help put healthier choices within reach for people with limited resources.
“For over 30 years, Wyoming SNAP-Ed, known as Cent$ible Nutrition Program, has been proud to serve the people and communities of Wyoming,” CNP Director Mindy Meuli said. “The connections and relationships we’ve built with our communities have had a significant impact.”
The SNAP-Ed funding is scheduled to end on Sept. 30, 2025, creating a critical gap in public health infrastructure in Wyoming and across the country, the UW Extension press release states.
“We are now looking toward the future and working to find ways to continue our good work without SNAP-Ed funding,” Meuli said.
SNAP-Ed – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education – is a federally funded and state-administered program through the Department of Family Services that “empowers people with limited resources, helping them to develop skills that improve their health, stretch food dollars and increase food security.”
“SNAP-Ed funding empowered our program to build strong relationships with (our partners), and we are so grateful for the connections and impacts we have had,” Velarde said.
CNP is now working to reconfigure the program, and DFS is exploring the potential to use carryover funds from SNAP-Ed, per federal guidance.
The CNP program will also continue in a limited capacity through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program grant, focusing on nutrition education classes.
“Our plans for this are still coming together,” Velarde said.
For more information, email Meuli at mmeuli1@uwyo.edu.