New data shows the local economic impact of Summer EBT in counties across the state.
In Summer 2024, Texas was one of only 13 states that chose not to participate in Summer EBT, a new federal nutrition program that provides a grocery benefit to families with low-income students to make up for the loss of school meals during the summer. Today, Feeding Texas releases county-level data to show the impact Summer EBT could have had and still can have in communities across our state.
The deadline to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to USDA to participate in Summer EBT is January 1st each year. Texas is currently poised to miss this deadline again in 2025.
“Child hunger spikes in the summer because millions of children lose access to the school meals they receive in the regular school year,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. “Summer EBT fills this gap, ensuring that Texas kids stay nourished and ready to learn. The program is particularly important for a state like Texas, where 1-in-6 households are food insecure.”
Summer EBT provides families with $120 in food benefits per eligible child on an EBT card, which families can use like a debit card to purchase groceries during the summer. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates 3.75 million Texas students could be eligible to receive approximately $450 million in food aid through the program.
“Summer EBT is a valuable economic driver. Each dollar spent on SNAP benefits generates nearly two dollars in economic activity,” said Amber O’Connor, Food Policy Analyst for Every Texan. “In the counties served by Texas’ food banks, an estimated $405,737,097.00 in benefits could help to feed around nearly 3.5 million Texas children. These Summer EBT dollars would provide a significant boost to food retailers and the local economy across our service area, especially for small businesses.”
Each dollar spent on SNAP benefits generates nearly $2 in economic activity. In the counties served by Texas’ foodbanks, an estimated $405,737,097.00 in benefits could help to feed around nearly 3.5 million Texas children.
To qualify for Summer EBT, families must meet the income requirements for the National School Lunch Program or be directly certified for school meals through SNAP or Medicaid. Data from the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) breaks down the potential Summer EBT benefit amount by county based on current eligibility for school meals in Texas. The data demonstrate the significant local economic impact Summer EBT could have for communities across the state. If Texas chooses not to participate in 2025, the state would be leaving these federal benefit dollars on the table for a second year in a row.
“Texas food banks are already working overtime to meet the increased need from families facing soaring food costs and long wait times for SNAP benefits,” Cole said. “The demand for emergency food assistance is outpacing our supply. Food banks cannot afford for our state to leave hundreds of millions of dollars on the table again in 2025 — and neither can Texas children facing hunger.”
Food banks cannot afford for our state to leave hundreds of millions of dollars on the table again in 2025 — and neither can Texas children facing hunger.
If Texas misses the January 1st NOI deadline, there is still a small window of time in the new year when the Texas Legislature can act to implement Summer EBT. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) needs direction from the Legislature by March 1 at the latest to move forward with the program for Summer 2025.
“If there is one thing all Texans can agree on, it’s that no child should go hungry,” Cole said. “Children are our most important asset, and we have a moral obligation to protect their well-being. Their nourishment and development should be a top priority, as children are the foundation of our future. Texas missed out on Summer EBT in 2024, but we don’t have to miss out again. The Texas Legislature should prioritize Texas kids and direct HHSC to implement Summer EBT by March in order to launch the program in Summer 2025.”
View Data: Estimated Number of Eligible Kids and Summer EBT Benefit Amount by County