Haymaker Market gets $38,000 Grant for EBT Service

EBT service at the Haymaker Farmer's Market just got a big boost.

The city and the market received $38,000 from a joint application to expand the use of electronic benefits transfer, or EBT, cards at the weekly outdoor market.

The grant will allow the market to promote it's EBT or Ohio Direction Card. The card acts like a bank debit card and holds food assistance benefits for residents in the program, according to the Ohio EBT website.

Haymaker Market manager Kelly Ferry said the grant will expand access to the market for Kent families.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to develop creative new ways to introduce more families in our community to the benefits of buying local at the market, and to continue building partnerships with other organizations that also support these families," Ferry said.

She said the grant money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be used strictly for promoting the market's existing EBT program.

"Operating on a belief that healthy foods shouldn’t be limited to high income families, the Haymaker Market is making sure that their market keeps its strong sense of social conscience," Ruller wrote on his blog.

Editor's note: this story was updated at 9:21 a.m.