Yamhill County commissioners voted unanimously Nov. 6 to authorize $100,000 from the county's lottery-funded economic development account to be distributed as short-term grants to local food banks serving SNAP recipients.

The action aims to help Yamhill County residents who are current SNAP recipients and face an interruption in federal benefit disbursements caused by a partial federal shutdown. Commissioners authorized the county administrator to execute agreements with up to 17 food-bank organizations identified on the county's community resource list and said funds should be used to purchase and distribute boxed food to SNAP-eligible Yamhill County residents.

Why it matters: With federal SNAP payments temporarily reduced or delayed, local food banks reported increased demand. County leaders said the $100,000 allocation is intended to be a stopgap to help households get through the interruption while state and federal decisions play out.

Board discussion and conditions: Commissioner Starrett, who introduced the proposal, described the money as a way to "supplant what SNAP benefits are not there" and urged an expedited process to get funds to food banks. Commissioners discussed requiring recipients to be Yamhill County residents who are current SNAP beneficiaries and debated administrative requirements for smaller volunteer-run food pantries. The board directed staff to use an existing grant template, keep reporting requirements minimal, and return to the board only if individual grantees could not meet the basic conditions.

Distribution mechanics: The board discussed dividing the funds evenly among the identified organizations; if divided across 17 entities the amount would be roughly in the mid-thousands per organization. Commissioners and staff emphasized that the grants are intended to directly cover purchase of food boxes or wholesale food supplies rather than general operating support or community meal programs.

Quote: "What I'm looking for is to fund the food banks who would then be able to supplant what SNAP benefits are not there," Commissioner Starrett said during the discussion.

Outcome and next steps: The board voted to authorize the county administrator to sign agreements with the named food banks, subject to minimal reporting and the residency/SNAP eligibility requirements. Staff will finalize the list of recipients, prepare the standard grant agreements, and begin disbursing funds once agreements are returned.