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In the first year of the federal stimulus program, food assistance increases alone have boosted economic activity and income, and saved or created jobs in Iowa, according to a new report by the nonpartisan Iowa Fiscal Partnership.
The study looked at the impact of an increase in food assistance programs as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), specifically the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, (formerly known as “Food Stamps”) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program, which provides commodities to food pantries and soup kitchens.
Researchers found food assistance has an economic benefit to the state of Iowa greater than the federal government’s initial investment.
“Though ARRA allocates only $43 million in food assistance funding to the state, the stimulus’ impact on Iowa’s total economic output in fiscal year 2009 is nearly $58 million. This 35 percent increase is the stimulus’ economic impact on the Iowa economy,” the report said.
The report also found that for every $1 million invested in SNAP or TEFAP, about 10 Iowa jobs are saved or created.
“Some federal ARRA funds, originally destined for low-income households as food assistance, in turn reach Iowa businesses in the form of boosted sales. With greater sales and profits, Iowa businesses can employ more workers and pay greater incomes to residents,” the report said.
Ultimately, every federal dollar of stimulus spent on food assistance in Iowa yields about $1.35 in total output for the state.
The study was conducted by Molly Fleming, an intern with the Iowa Policy Project, Iowa State University economic analyst David Swenson and Iowa Policy Project Research Director Peter Fisher.
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