Problem Solved: Rep. Lee Helps Sandy Valley General Store Secure Approval as SNAP Retailer

Statement

U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) was notified on Friday, Nov. 22, that the Sandy Valley General Store was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as an authorized Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailer, after months of uncertainty about the store's SNAP retailer status. Thirty-four percent of Sandy Valley residents rely on SNAP benefits.

In August 2019, the store's application to become an official SNAP retailer was denied, meaning the store could not accept SNAP benefits as a form of payment. As part of that decision-making process, the USDA determined that the store was not in a geographic area with "significantly limited access to food."

In a Nov. 12 letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, Rep. Lee highlighted that the next nearest SNAP retailer is a gas station and convenience store a 19-mile drive away. Considering 34 percent of Sandy Valley residents rely on SNAP benefits and the area is highly limited in transportation, Rep. Lee argued that Sandy Valley reasonably qualifies as an area with significantly limited access to food and urged the USDA to find a timely path forward to approving Sandy Valley General Store and ensuring residents' access to their only grocery store in town.

On Nov. 22, USDA officials informed Rep. Lee that the store was reevaluated and approved as an authorized SNAP retailer on Nov. 17, 2019.

Rep. Lee released the following statement in reaction to the news:

"USDA made the right decision in approving the Sandy Valley General Store as an authorized SNAP retailer. One out of every three Sandy Valley residents relies on SNAP benefits to buy their groceries. Without this store, those residents need to travel 19 miles to buy food at the next-closest SNAP retailer, which is actually a gas station convenience store. No reasonable person should expect a family on a limited budget to travel 38 miles roundtrip every time they need groceries. In rural areas with limited public transportation, we need to make sure that every person and every family has reasonable access to food, which is now a possibility for every resident in Sandy Valley. Solving problems like this is exactly why I came to Congress."

Derrick and Jasmyn Fletcher, owners of the Sandy Valley General Store, said:

"Thank you so much. Because of the relentless efforts on all your parts this was made possible. We could not have done this without all the help. My family and I are so appreciative and I know the people of Sandy Valley who use EBT will be relieved and happy to be able to shop again."

BACKGROUND: In Rep. Lee's Nov. 12 letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, she highlighted the importance of supporting accessible sources of food and urged immediate action from USDA for the well-being of Sandy Valley residents:

For many Sandy Valley residents, this general store is their only accessible source of food. The closest SNAP-authorized retailer, as listed on FNS's SNAP retailer locator, is a gas station and convenience store located about a 19-mile drive away from the Sandy Valley General Store (see Figure 3). The next nearest SNAP-authorized retailer is another gas station and convenience store about a 35-mile drive away in Henderson, Nevada. There is no public transit service from Sandy Valley to either of these stores. For many of Sandy Valley's residents without access to a vehicle or the ability to drive, the Sandy Valley General Store serves as their only accessible grocery store.

The current owners purchased Sandy Valley General Store in January 2018, aiming to keep the store open for the community after the previous owner left. However, Sandy Valley residents rely heavily on SNAP benefits to purchase their food, and the store has struggled to stay open without the ability to accept SNAP benefits. The store briefly closed in August of this year then reopened in September, and could soon be forced to close again without the ability to accept SNAP benefits.

Unfortunately, the people of Sandy Valley cannot wait. I urge FNS to waive the test created by guidance under RPMD Policy Memorandum 2018-03 to allow the Sandy Valley General Store to be authorized as a SNAP retailer based on the Sandy Valley community's significant need for access. I affirm my support for finding a timely and productive path forward to ensure Sandy Valley residents' access to nutrition. The health and well-being of thousands of children and families across Sandy Valley depend on it.

Source